IGP says Eminent Persons Forum in States will help to tackle crimes

Abuja – The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, says the formation of Eminent Persons Forum in collaboration with State Governments and various communities will be a major strategy to tackling crimes in the country.
A statement signed by DCP Donald Awunah, Force Public Relations Officer in Abuja on Saturday, quoted him as saying this when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa in Delta.
“The Eminent Persons Forum will be engaged in conflict resolution arbitration,’’ the statement further quoted him as saying.
The statement said that Idris also held an interactive session with the elders, youths and members of Ugborodo and Oparaza communities, admonishing them to be law abiding.
He urged them to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by exposing criminal element in their communities.
The IGP assured the communities that the police under his leadership would engage every community in accordance with international core values of policing with integrity and respect diversity.
He said that the police would operate within the principles of democratic policing and cultivate the culture of professionalism.
The statement noted that in recent times, some riverine communities in the Niger-Delta region had witnessed renewed militancy occasioned by pipeline and oil installations vandalism, thereby causing environmental and security challenges.
Idris also conducted on-the-spot assessment and evaluation of security situation in some flash points in the creeks of the State.
The statement quoted the Okowas as congratulating the IGP on his well deserved appointment and promised to cooperate and assist him in the task of crime management.
“The IGP was accompanied by the Commissioners of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force and Border Patrol, Heads of Operational and Tactical Teams as well as the Commissioner of Police, Delta State.
“They conducted aerial surveillance and patrol of some riverine communities, which include Ugborodo, Madawo, Oparaza and Camp Five,’’ it said.
The statement said that some of the community leaders assured the IGP of their unalloyed support, cooperation and active partnership.