Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to redouble its effort towards ridding Kwara State of criminals and miscreants.
The Minister, who made the call at the commissioning of an
ultra-modern Mobile Police Barracks built by the Offa Community in
Kwara State on Thursday, said recent events have shown that hoodlums
and miscreants are still
very much active in the state.
“With what Offa people have done today, they have given you (the
police) the necessary support to rid not just Offa but the entire
Kwara State of hoodlums, cultists, armed robbers and all undesirables.
“This is a call to duty and I want to call on the police in Kwara
State to redouble their effort in ensuring that Kwara State is safe
for all,” he said, adding that this was necessary to create a secure
and peaceful atmosphere for development to thrive in the state.
“Those who witnessed what happened a few days ago in the state will
agree with me that cultists, hoodlums, hooligans and brigands are
still very much active in Kwara State,” he said.
Mohammed said it has become expedient for the police to act now
and secure the environment, especially in the run-up to the 2019
general elections.
“You must please ensure that every citizen of this state is free to
cast his vote and that his vote will not only be counted but his vote
will count, and the only way you can assure us of this is by ensuring
that you rid the state of all criminal elements before elections,” he
said.
The Minister commended the Offa community for providing a befitting
barracks for the Mobile Police Force in the town, in view of the
series of robberies in the area, especially the April 5, 2018 attack
that left 33 people dead.
In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, who was represented
by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Mobile Police, Mr. Lawal
Jimeta, said the Squadron Base was strategically located to check
violent crime in Offa and the adjourning states of Ekiti, Osun and
Kogi.
Also speaking, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, said the
community spent N700 million to build the Mobile Police Barracks
within six months.
The barracks boasts of one 3-bedroom and 44 two-bedroom flats, as well
as an Administrative block, an Armoury, a Guard House and a
Communication Room, among other facilities.
