BENIN CITY-The Commissioner of Police in Edo State Mr Haliru Gwandu has identified specific areas of need that the state police command would want Gov Godwin Obaseki to focus on in his desire to consolidate on security achievements in the state.

It will be recalled that Mr Godwin Obaseki had in his inaugural speech last weekend promised to assist security agencies in Edo State.

The COMPOL listed areas of immediate needs of the state police command to include patrol vehicles, gunboats and motorcycles for effective patrol of land and waterways in the state.

He further stated that assistance in the maintenance of the vehicles and other logistics would also fast track adequate policing of both the urban and rural areas.   

COMPOL Gwandu while expressing the police command readiness to provide intelligence based policing in Edo State disclosed that the command had widened its scope by posting policemen to new areas that deserve security attention.

He also revealed that the state police command has embarked on capacity building to cover the nook and cranny of the state.

Mr Haliru Gwandu stated this while commending the newly sworn in governor of Edo State for taking security of Edo people as a priority.

“I believe what the governor is trying to do as the Chief Security Officer of the state is to ensure that the protection of lives and property in Edo State is paramount.

“Immediate areas of assistance are the issue of vehicles, gunboats to patrol the riverine areas, motorcycles, there are some areas vehicles cannot enter, motorcycles can be used to access those areas and fight crime.

“Also, the maintenance cost which the government has been doing. I believe that if we widened the scope that means, we expand the provision of logistics, exactly the maintenance cost will equally increase.

“These are major areas every security agency expects government to support them and play a complementary role”. CP Gwandu stated.

He stated that as part of efforts to provide security for all the Inspector-General of Police Mr Idris Ibrahim had provided hundreds of vehicles and men “Safer Highway” charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and property on the highway across the country.

He however reassured residents and visitors in the state of protection of lives and property before, during and after the yuletide period.