Inspector-general of Police Kayode Egbetokun has reported a downward trend in crime rates across Nigeria, citing official records to support his claim.
Egbetokun spoke to State House correspondents yesterday after a security meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The police chief attributed the decline in crime rate to effective synergy and strategies implemented by security agencies. He vowed to sustain efforts to maintain the downward trend in crime rates.
He further disclosed that President Tinubu charged the various security formations to improve their synergy in securing the country.
He said, “It was a routine security meeting we had with Mr. President where we had the opportunity of giving him security briefs. We’ve been doing this regularly.
“Mr. President is happy with what we are doing, he’s satisfied with our reports and he has challenged us to continue to work together and improve our synergy.
“As the Inspector-General Police, I have the records of all reported crimes across the country and I can tell you that the crime rate is declining in Nigeria. Records don’t lie, the records are there.
“So I can assure you that we’ll continue to do whatever we are doing to maintain the decline in the crime rate”, Egbetokun said.
Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured Nigerians that the military was taking steps to restore full oil production, targeting 2.1 million barrels per day.
He warned criminals involved in infrastructure destruction and crude oil theft that their days are numbered, and the military would go after them.
He emphasised the need for collective effort to achieve success, urging all stakeholders, including states and communities, to work together to restore full production.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by communities and assured that the President will address these issues to ensure uninterrupted oil production.
General Musa stated that the president was aware of the concerns of communities affected by oil production and has vowed to address their grievances.
Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap and others.
