By DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE— THE Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, yesterday, blamed the upsurge in  crimes in the country on high unemployment and poverty,  but assured that security agents would not relent in tackling the nation’s security challenges.

Abubakar, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, noted that serious recovery of arms and ammunition and arrest of some suspects in connection with security threat had been made since he assumed office.

Abubakar, who was in Ondo State as part of his nationwide tour to sensitise the officers and men of the force, called for an urgent step to address high poverty and unemployment in the country.

He said he became Acting IG when the police force was faced with the challenges of the Boko Haram insurgence and that the force had been able to apprehend some of the perpetrators of  the bombings.

On bribery and corruption, he warned police officers against such act, warning that any officer caught in the act would be dismissed.

Abubakar said the present authority of the force had taken measures to rebuild the confidence of the people in the force, stressing that it was also determined to build a police force that would respect and protect the people as well as take seriously the security challenges of the country.

On road blocks, he said “road blocks are gone forever, it is in police determination to eradicate bribery and corruption in our system and we are taking a giant step toward this.”

During a courtesy call on Governor Olusegun Mimiko,  the IG described Ondo State as peaceful and warned politicians against heating up the polity ahead of the gubernatorial election, promising the safety of life and property during the election.

Speaking, Gov. Mimiko, attributed the prevailing peace in the state to the synergy between government and security agencies, promising to assist in training of security agents outside the country.