By Emmanuel Uffot
Barely five weeks after resuming as the new Commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom State, the police boss has received a welcome package from Akwa Ibom State Government to sustain and enhance the battle against crime.
Governor Udom Emmanuel made a donation of one brand new SUV Prado Jeep to the new Commissioner of police for his official use, 10 Hilux operational vans to the police command when the later Mr Olatoye Durosinmi paid him a courtesy visit.
The Governor said the gesture was in line with his resolve to partner the security agencies to fight crime and sustain the relative peace enjoyed in the state as against the growing insecurity witnessed in many states of the federation.
He noted that the 10 new trucks bring to 45 the number of operational vehicles so far donated by his administration to the command and assured that he will keep to his promise to provide 100 operational vehicles before leaving office next year.
He lauded the police Commissioner for his interest in marine security, adding that the donation of 18 gunboats with outboard engines to the marine unit of the state police command earlier was to enhance security on the state’s waterways.
“Let me thank you for your special interest in marine security. I am aware of the tools that you need, we have tried our possible best to supply the gun-boats and new engines and in the past two weeks we’ve acquired a lot, we’ve bought five earlier you said they were not enough we added thirteen making it eighteen gun-boats in these few months, we will continue to improve on that and I am sure you have seen that we have improved a lot on communication equipment. I believe if it is properly deplored it will help us a whole lot,” the governor said.
Governor Emmanuel also commended the CP’s aesthetic value, swift adaptation to the security challenges of the state and collaboration with other sister agencies barely five weeks he assumed duty in the state and reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to support the command in crime fighting.
“I like your passion; I like your commitment and I like your promise to make Akwa Ibom State Command the most enviable in the whole country. Let me thank you that even before this official reception you swung into action. Your collaboration with the Army, SSS, Civil Defense and other Military and Paramilitary and other security agencies is highly commendable because we are all aiming towards the same goal to save the society for all. Thank you for that cooperation. I can assure you as a State Government that it is our primary responsibility and our social call to secure lives and property and we will do that with all amount of seriousness, commitment and passion to deliver and once the passion is right nothing is impossible”.
In his remarks, the CP, Durosinmi appreciated the warm welcome accorded him in the state and the support he has so far received from the state government, describing the state as a brand that is being looked up to by other Nigerians.
Durosinmi used the occasion to read a riot act to criminal elements in the state and sounded a note of warning of his regime’s intolerance for such persons “It is simple for them to repent and become good citizens of Akwa Ibom State or leave the command for us.
“We will not allow a microscopic minority who are disturbing the peace of the state to have their way. We will get to them before they get to our innocent people”
“It is simple for them to repent and become good citizens of Akwa Ibom State or leave the command for us. We will not allow a microscopic minority who are disturbing the peace of the state to have their way. We will get to them before they get to our innocent people.”
The latest support to the police by Governor Emmanuel is one of such logistics support hundreds of millions of Naira extended to the state police Command this year alone.
It could be recalled that early this year, the state government donated 30 new utility patrol vehicles donated to the command to combat crimes in the state. Similarly, the government had recently built and handed over a police Barracks to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the Nigerian Police. The new Special Protection Unit Base 27 located in Awa, Onna local government area, was inaugurated by the Inspector General of police Alkali Usman in January 19, 2022.
The command also received 18-gun boats from the Akwa Ibom State Government recently to combat activities of sea pirates and other criminals. Governor Emmanuel has also in the course of his administration donated operational gadgets and other working tools to enhance the operation of personnel in the state.
Apart from police, Governor Emmanuel has also extended logistics support to other security agencies operating in the state. One of these instances was the building and donation of 168 blocks of flats for military personnel and provision water in their barracks.
Durosinmi who is the 31st Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom since the creation of the state, replaced Andrew Amiengheme who was recently elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of police and redeployed from the state.
