BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Benin City, Nigeria – Edo State Police Command has changed its crime bursting-strategies as it has taken the ongoing renewed battle against criminals to the forests in order to dislodge major kidnappers and killer-herdsmen in the state.
Our exclusive investigation revealed that some offices of tactical units at the state police command headquarters in Benin City have technically be relocated to identified flashpoints in the forests as the operatives were conspicuously absent during several visits by our reporter.
Checks further revealed that the new order was in full compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of police, CP Abutu Yaro, deployed to Edo State few weeks ago.
It was gathered that CP Abutu had on assumption of duty in the state directed all tactical unit heads at the command headquarters to leave their comfort zones and take the fight against kidnappings, banditry, killer-herdsmen and other violent crimes to the forests and highways where the criminals are known to be operating.
A drive round Benin City and some others in the state revealed that the police command has also increased police visibility and patrols for swift response to any untoward occurrence.
It would be recalled that the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki had during CP Abutu Yaro’s familiarization visit to him, challenged the police command on proactive strategies of protecting lives and property in the state.
It was observed that the operatives involved in the ongoing onslaught have been given logistics’ support by the state government to boost and sustain their high morale.
A source at Odighi community in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State stated that police presence has pushed killer herdsmen away from their forest as inhabitants now go to their farms without fear of being attacked or killed by suspected herdsmen or kidnappers.
Checks further revealed that Compol Abutu Yaro had directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to minimize transfer of case files to the command headquarters in order to avoid inundating the tactical squads with cases that can be treated at the division’s level.
Investigation further revealed that the security arrangements at the divisional police headquarters have also been modified to ensure watertight security as the CP Abutu is said to have zero-tolerance for lapses.
