Police Seek Stronger Synergy With Delta Traditional Ruler On Crime

The commissioner of police in Delta State, Mr Aina Adesola, has solicited greater collaboration from the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1,  to address crime in the state.

Adesola made the appeal yesterday when he led a delegation of the command’s management on a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom in Effurun.

The commissioner, who had earlier visited the temporary office of the newly created Effurun Area Command, also urged political actors and community leaders not to interfere in criminal investigations and prosecution.

“It is only in Nigeria, you see families of suspected criminals, kidnappers and cultists moving from one police station to another, attempting to influence police officers or through blackmail in the social media in order to bend the laws.

“In Uvwie Kingdom, there has been no interference in police investigation and prosecution of criminals.

“This might be partly responsible for the declining criminal incidents in the local government area,” he said.

The commissioner expressed gratitude to the Ovie of Uvwie for sustaining peace in the kingdom.

He also commended the traditional ruler for constituting a palace security committee saddled with the responsibility of checkmating activities of criminal elements in the kingdom.

Adesola advised that criminal incidents or information should be passed discreetly directly to the Area Commander or Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) for prompt actions.

The CP stressed the importance of parental guidance and proper upbringing of children and wards.

“Community leaders should screen okada riders’ thoroughly because some of them work with criminal elements in the communities,” he said.

Responding, the Ovie of Uvwie blamed the rising incidences of crime in the communities on lack of respect for the traditional institutions by youth.

The traditional ruler also decried situations where suspects were arrested and ended up being freed without proper interrogation and prosecution.

“The suspects sometimes end up threatening those who reported them to the security agencies.

“There are also situations where traditional rulers fighting crimes in their communities are invited by the police.

“In some cases activities of some human rights groups make it difficult to fight crimes,” he said.

The royal father called for synergy between the traditional institutions and security agencies to effectively combat crime in the society. (NAN)