The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has charged the 144 newly decorated police officers of the Command to redouble their efforts towards ridding the state of criminal elements.
The CP warned criminal elements to shed their act, or be ready to face the superior firepower of officers and men recently re-energised for the mission of riding the state of all forms of criminalities.
Azare, a former Deputy CP in-charge of operations in the state, was recently elevated to take over from CP Joseph Eribo, who had been redeployed to Ekiti Command.
Addressing the 144 newly elevated officers during his maiden strategic security meeting with members of the management team comprising Area Commanders (ACs), Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and Tactical Commanders (TCs), the CP reminded the personnel that their promotions should serve as an elixir for more work.
CP Azare emphasised key directives from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, on the need to address issues of corruption, extortion, incivility towards the public, and the need for proper supervision of junior officers.
Commending the IGP for the promotion which he noted should serve as a morale – booster, Azare, assured senior officers of his readiness to operate an open-door policy, with key security strategies aimed at reducing crime and curbing unprofessional conduct among officers.
He, therefore, directed all DPOs, Area Commanders, and Tactical Commanders to draft actionable crime-reduction plans peculiar to their jurisdictions and ensure strict implementation.
He congratulated the newly promoted senior officers on their new ranks and charged them to be good ambassadors of the Command.
