Police attribute Offa robbery to intelligence breakdown

The Kwara State Police Command has attributed the bank robbery and horrendous killings in Offa, Offa Local Government Area, to a breakdown in intelligence.

Commissioner of Police Aminu Pai Saleh, who addressed reporters in Ilorin yesterday, said the deployment of criminals to the police station overwhelmed the officers and men at the station.

He said the connection between the police and the public had been at its lowest ebb, noting that the command is deficit in Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

Saleh said: “We have two moribund ones. Currently, we are talking with the state government to help us fix the moribund ones. And indeed, the government has been of immense help.

“Scenarios, such as the one in Offa is not allowed to happen again, not only in Offa, but anywhere in the state. And as part of effort to walk the talk, we have put strategy in place.

“Apart from physically re-organising the state’s security architecture, we have begun a complete re-orientation of the officers and men on the need to be prepared and give the best to protect the people.

“To do so, we are repositioning our strategies, including personnel reorganisation and widening our reach. Officers have been moved from one point to the other; more police presence in every nook and cranny of the state; patrol by officers within the city is intensified on 24 hours basis.

“Consultation has begun with relevant stakeholders – bankers, hotels, student body, selected youth organisations, traditional institutions and government at all levels to strengthen our capacity to discharge our responsibilities effectively, despite challenges faced by the command.

“We have received assurances from the police authorities and the government to support us with basic working tools, such as communication gadgets and patrol vehicles.

“We have also resolved to ensure that community policing is made our way of bringing service to the people, while officers and men in the

command have been warned to be professionals and know the consequences of corrupt engagements, incivility and service impact.

“As much as we are ready to serve with all we have, we also appeal to the people to have confidence is us, give us information and support us.”