By Austin Ogwuda
Asaba—DEPUTY Inspector-General of Police, DIG, in charge of South-South geopolitical zone, Mohammed Yesufu, has condemned the frequent attacks on police stations, resulting in the killing of officers and stealing of firearms.

Yesufu, who was in Asaba in continuation of his familiarization tour of police formations in the state, blamed the situation on the attitude of some policemen, whom he said exhibited “lackadaisical attitude to duty.”

Addressing officers and men at the State Police headquarters in Asaba, wednesday, Yesufu said: “I am always disappointed each day we read on the pages of newspapers about hoodlums maiming policemen on duty.

VISIT: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) and Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Mr. Mohammed Yesufu, during a courtesy call on the governor at Government House, Asaba, yesterday.

“The reckless and lackadaisical manner we (police) carry out our duties must change, as the Federal Government is already fed up with the situation.

“I see no reason why you cannot discharge your onerous task because you are backed by God, by Nigerians and by the law.”

The DIG, however, disagreed that the Police Force was the most corrupt institution in country, pointing out that the Police was bearing the brunt because “of the reckless manner you officers carry out your duties.’’

According to him, “Every now and then, you hold innocent motorists to ransom, demanding gratification with menace. This has given us bad image. Rather than continue to give us bad name, pull out your uniform and go home.”

Don’t intimidate Police—Uduaghan

Delta   State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, also use the opportunity to call on Nigerians to control their emotions and not intimidate, harass or mount unnecessary pressure on the Police but should allow it to do its work professionally.

Speaking against the backdrop of an alleged police extra-judicial killing when the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Mr. Mohammed Yesufu paid a courtesy call on him yesterday, Governor Uduaghan said he would not allow the Police to be intimidated by anybody.

He said: “I want to assure the Police that I will not sit here and allow the Police to be intimidated or harassed by anybody. Whatever death that occurred, the Police will investigate but I will not allow anybody to intimidate the Police, no matter your position or political affiliation.

“There is nobody whose death is not important. The Police will investigate every unnatural death in the state, but they will not be intimidated. We will not allow it,” he stressed.

Dr. Uduaghan said there was no society that was crime free and the Police should be allowed to do their work diligently and intelligently to avoid mistakes.

He said people sometimes want the Police to perform magic in the face of daunting challenges especially when their relations or friends are victims of criminal attack and stressed the need to allow the police carry out their duties thorough investigation to ensure that only the right suspects were nabbed.

“Do not take the laws into your hands because of the loss of a dear one instead you should be law abiding and wait for the police to investigate thoroughly,” he said.

The governor explained that relations of victims of either assassination attack or armed robbery would generally feel pain and grief even as he said that such situation should not provoke them to intimidate and harass the police.

Dr. Uduaghan therefore urged Nigerians not to take the laws into their hands but should excise restraint and control their utterances in order not to malign the police or constituted authority.

His words “There is nobody who will suffer from any criminal attack who will not feel pain. There is no family who loses a relation whether rich or poor who will not feel grief but we should control our emotions and allow the police to do its job.”

The governor however called on the Nigeria police to redouble effort during the Christmas season and reduce crime rate in the state so that people could enjoy the yuletide peacefully.

”I believe that it is our collective responsibility to have a crime free society. Today, many people find it difficult to come out of their houses, it is very unfortunate situation and I have given the mandate to the Commissioner of Police to flush out all criminals from the state, especially in this festive season,” Dr. Uduaghan said.

“This is Christmas season and I want you to double your effort and make the state crime free. People should enjoy this season peacefully and you have the duty to protect lives and property,” he said.

Dr. Uduaghan particularly enjoined the police to focus special attention on the riverine and rural areas as armed robbery and kidnap cases have been rampant in those areas.

He charged security operatives to flush out criminals and investigate all assassination cases thoroughly and bring suspects to book irrespective of their standing in the society.

The Governor said the police should be humane and careful in doing its work promising to provide logistics to security operatives in the state.