2011 polls: Delta police asks for more arms

By Austin Ogwuda
Asaba — WORRIED by the high rate of violence associated with general election, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Alkali, has sought for extra arms and ammuni-tion to meet up with the challenges as the 2011 general election draw nearer.

The commissioner made the appeal when Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande, visited the command in Asaba.

He described crime control and prevention in the state as a herculean task due to restiveness and proliferation of arms.

According to him “the command needs arms and ammunition, including other riot equipment, with the anticipated take off of political activities preparatory to 2011 general elections.

“The state is endowed with enormous natural resources which have manifested negatively in the agitations, restiveness, inter and intra ethnic rivalries, armed banditry and proliferation of prohibited arms and ammunition among the civil populace, making crime control and prevention a herculean task”.

He also added lamented the lack of serviceable patrol vehicles, noting that “the command manages only a few vehicles donated by the state government, as the command has no single lorry for the mobilization of large number of men during emergences.

“I, therefore, request the chairman to intervene in this direction,” the police commissioner said.