Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa welcoming the state’s new police boss, Mr. Olutokunbo Afolabi to his office on Monday
New Ondo State police boss, Mr. Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi unveiled his plans of curbing crimes in the state as he assumed office on Tuesday.
Speaking with reporters in Akure, he listed various strategies in fighting crimes even as he lamented proliferation of illegal firearms in circulation as demonstrated with killings in Owo, saying he would deploy his men to arrest bearers and retrieve such weapons.
Afolabi, who was posted to Ondo State on December 24, 2024, promised that he would enhance professionalism, discipline and welfare packages for his officers.
He promised to set up a special team to monitor operations of policemen on roads in the state to checkmate their alleged excesses of road users’ molestation.
His words: “There’s proliferation of fire arms in Owo. That’s why we are experiencing this. We will work assiduously that these people who are not licenced to possess firearms identified and the firearms are taken away from them so that the people of the state can leave in peace.”
Unfurling his agenda, the state’s 45th Police boss said: “I am going to give professionalism much attention.
“There will be emphasis on training and retraining of officers on all subjects relating to police.
“I swill make sure I extend to human right, investigation. There is going to be a paradigm shift in policing as we will be engaging the people in finding solution to security challenges were facing.
“Technology needs to be employed to address security challenges we are being confronted with.
“No negotiation with training and retraining. I will be directly involved. A personnel who is not trained is a threat to the people he’s protecting. I want our police in Ondo State to be recognized in appearance and turn out as the best. The way you turn out is the way the people will address you.
“The rights of the citizens would not be breached in any way. I have the responsibility that my men are well protected. As a father, the days of molesting and attacking policemen are over.
“I pride myself in discipline. There will be zero tolerance to indiscipline.”
The CP, who promised to work in synergy with other security agencies, including Amotekun Corps, to tackle crimes in the border communities in the state, enjoined car owners to get pedal locks or trackers in their vehicles to prevent criminals from stealing them.
He promised to engage all stakeholders, irrespective of the social status, through Community Safety Partnership, to tackle crimes at the grassroots.
