IGP Egbetokun Commends Kwara Command’s Peace Efforts, Promises Benefits For Officers

Ilorin, Kwara State– The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, commended the state command officers for their dedication to peace and harmony and pledged additional logistics support for the state command.

He made this disclosure during his visit to the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin on November 24, 2023.

Mr Egbetokun, in 2019 was appointed as the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State before the 2019 General Election, reiterated that he came back home to fulfill his role.

Egbetokun said “I thank you all for the sacrifice you made to make Kwara State peaceful and I’m aware of the effort you have made to arrest, conviction and recover arms. Our vision is to establish a professionally competent police force—one that prioritizes service driven by rule of law compliance and is known for being citizens-friendly.

“We want to build a police force that would support the agenda of government in economic recovery and growth, social integration and political development of our country.

“We want a police force that would be so well position to respond to the dynamic of the crime and criminalities of our communities. We want to build a police force that the members of the police force would be proud that they are member of police force. We want a police force that would be well respected by the people of Nigeria and to achieve this, it’s essential for everyone to align with and support our shared vision.

He explained that he is focusing on manpower and highlighted the shortage of personnel in the Kwara State Police Command.

According to him, “I know the stress I put you through when I was the commissioner of police here, in making sure that the job is done. I know that one police man today does the job of two police men and when he dozens in the public, his photography would be taken and posted to make ridicule of him.

“I have come with the hope that there is future for the Nigeria police, we are making an effort to increase your strength.
He said President Bola Tinubu has recently approved the recruitment of more officers yearly into the Nigerian police.

The police boss stressed the necessity to double the strength of manpower while emphasizing the importance of regular training. He proposed that every policeman should attend at least one training session per week.

Egbetokun emphasized that one cannot become a professional police officer without undergoing proper professional training.

He, however, assured all officers that their welfare is a priority, highlighting attention to pensions and other benefits aimed at motivating them to perform their duties diligently and efficiently.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiye, while commanding the efforts of the IGP, said the number of Policemen and Women policing the State has dropped far below the accepted United Nations policing ratio of 1 Policeman to A00 citizens.

However, the IGP has assured of the recruitment of more hands, as the State is surrounded by both Local and International Borders, making policing challenging.

Mr Olaiye credited Egbetokun’s collaborative efforts during his tenure as the Commissioner of Police in the Kwara State Command, he said the collaboration has firmly taken root and played a significant role in the successes achieved in the area of crime fighting in the State.

He said despite logistic challenges and inadequate power, the Command has been trying to maintain and sustain the harmony that has existed in state.

” I would like to use this divine opportunity to request the Supply of an Armored Personnel Carrier (AP) to further enhance the security of our Banks and improve our crime fighting.

“I want to inform you, sir, that we have enjoyed the support of all stakeholders in the State, from State actors to non-state actors, traditional institutions, Wade unions, student unions, and others,” he added.