Delta Needs More Policemen, Okowa Tells Acting I-G

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that the state needs more police deployment in order to consolidate on and sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace in the state.

Okowa, who made the observation when the acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, called on him at the Government House in Asaba on Friday, expressed delight that peace has returned to troubled areas in the state.

Okowa said,”We had security challenges but, by the grace of God, they are easing off and with this visit to some of the riverine areas, we hope you will see the security challenges and hopefully we will receive more police personnel to handle the challenges there.”

He congratulated the acting I-G and commended him for coming down to Delta State for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation of the state.

“I can see that with the physical fitness in you a lot will be achieved”, Okowa said, adding, “I believe that we will also make a lot of progress when there is timely sharing of intelligence and information because, once we have warm relationship and sharing of opinions, we will achieve a lot in having a peaceful state, a peaceful country.

He assured of his administration’s continued support for the police force while also commending the Mr Idris on the proposed “Eminent Persons Forum” in all Area Commands, saying “it will help the Police have a better understanding of our people, culture and peculiar security issues and how to handle them”.

Earlier, the acting I-G, who was accompanied by top ranking police officers, told the governor, members of the executive council and the leadership of the state legislature present that his team was in the state to assess and evaluate the security situation and what their men were doing to tackle security issues.