By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has affirmed the significant improvements of security in the state, as evidenced by the increasing number of individuals and businesses relocating to the state. He attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of various security agencies, alongside the implementation of a robust community policing strategy and the training of public community volunteers in the state.
Obaseki noted that while this achievement is very much commendable, there is need for further improvements, particularly in addressing the issue of cultism, which continues to be a major contributor to homicide cases recorded in the state.
He gave these remarks on Thursday August 15th, 2024, while receiving the new Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Nemi Edwin-Iwo, at the State Government House, in Benin City, who was on a courtesy visit with his team.
Obaseki said: “It is with great pleasure that I welcome our new CP who resumed duty yesterday. We welcome you to Edo State, the heartbeat of Nigeria. It is quite an enormous task but I can assure you that in Edo state, we have built a culture of working very closely with various security agencies. So, you are inheriting a security platform where all the agencies are very responsive and collaborative.
“You would also be inheriting a platform that has been developed over the last six to seven years. We have been able to build a very robust community engagement response to support policing activities in the state. I would say that Edo has the best community policing in the federation, contributing towards the success that the security agencies have achieved in calming security situations in Edo.
“We have the community policing arrangement on ground. We have public volunteers who support the local government security; our community-based volunteers that support government, market associations, communities. We have ensured that they work with your team and other security agencies. You have supported in training them in your training college at Ogida; that has helped build synergy between these volunteers and your command.”
He continued: “One reason that could make the heart keep beating is security. We are glad that you have been posted here. You clearly came to Edo with a lot of experience, particularly, relevant experiences we need at this time, to ensure peace and safety in our state.
“As you may have been briefed and seen from the security reports which the State Security Council put out regularly, one of the biggest challenges we have in this state is cultism. Cultism continues to drive homicide; we have recorded over 160 cases of homicide, mostly caused by cult activities.”
The Governor also assured the Commissioner of Police of the full support of the judiciary, emphasizing that the reforms that have been implemented by his administration have enhanced the judiciary’s operational efficiency. He hinted that the reforms have enabled the judiciary to enforce the law more effectively and prosecute criminals who have been charged.
“I assure you that you have a government that is aligned to ensuring peace and safety. We want to assure you that today, there is a very good understanding and working relationship between the judiciary and the state security agencies, and we hope and believe that you can leverage on this”, Obaseki said.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the newly appointed Edo State Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, expressed gratitude to Governor Obaseki for the warm reception, while extending appreciation to his predecessor for establishing a strong relationship between the government and the Police Force.
Affirming his commitment to eradicating crime in the state, the Commissioner stated that Edo State, with its rich history and vibrant culture, deserves nothing less than a peaceful and secure environment where citizens can thrive without fear.
The CP said: “I want to especially appreciate the Governor of Edo State and the great people of Edo State for the support they have given to the police in the state. I pray we receive the same cooperation during my tenure.
“In order to achieve the desired peace and security in the state, we are going to leverage on the following policing strategies; strengthening of community policing, strengthening the bond between the police and the communities; trust and cooperation which are essential in our fight against crime, for mutual respect and collaboration.
“We are well aware of the challenges of various forms of criminal activities; armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping and other offences that threaten the peace of the communities. My team would be prepared to implement intelligence-driven strategies to effectively combat these crimes.
“We would enhance our surveillance and visibility patrols. We would improve our response to distress, to ensure that criminals have no place to hide within the state. We shall also promote professionalism, ensuring that the officers are constantly briefed and debriefed, trained and retrained, exposed to all the rule of law and the fundamental human rights, hard work rewarded and indiscipline abolished.
“During my tenure, fairness and equity would be maintained in fighting crime,” he added.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation and support from both the government and the people in the fight against crime, underscoring shared responsibility in the fight against insecurity.
He further acknowledged the significant challenges ahead, particularly in the coming months, but assured that with the expertise of his team and the collaboration of all stakeholders, all gaps would be addressed, and peace would be maintained, insisting that his office remains open to everyone and committed to listening to all concerns.
According to Edwin-Iwo, “As the new Commissioner of Police, I am committed to making this vision a reality, through a comprehensive and collaborative approach of policing the state. Together, I believe we can make it.
“However, to achieve a safer Edo State that we all want, our efforts alone would not be enough, in this regard, we need to collaborate, we need the collective support of all securities agencies, voluntary organizations and the good people of Edo State. Security is a collective responsibility to ensure we achieve our end. I urge you to report suspicious activities and actively participate in community policing programs.”
