The new Edo CP and Governor Obaseki

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Newly deployed Commissioner of Police to Edo State, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, has said that the Command will form partnership with security agencies, including local hunters, to stem the rising waves of kidnapping and violent crimes in the State.

Kokumo who disclosed this at a press briefing at the Command headquarters in Benin to herald his resumption as the 38th CP on Wednesday, expressed his readiness to combat crime in the state to the barest tolerable minimum.

He added that the command will depend more on receiving vital relevant information that will aid in the arrest of criminals which he stressed is better than acquisition of a thousand AK 47 fire arms in the combat of criminal elements.

He pledged to develop a partnership with the Community local and Sister security agencies in the task of providing the state with adequate security.

“We will ensure Synergy and collaboration for internal security. The command under my leadership has abhorrence for corruption as well as zero tolerance for human rights Abuses,” Kokumo said, even as he warned operatives of the State police against all forms of extortion and “money for bail.”

Meanwhile, ths state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has given assurance that he would work with the new police boss to enforce a new security architecture in the state.

Obaseki who gave the assurance when he received the new CP at the Government House in Benin, further pledged his administration’s support for Mr. Kokumo to enable him succeed in his new assignment.

“We will give you the needed support to succeed. We believe that the responsibility for restoring law and order rests with the police. We hope that you will fulfill your constitutional responsibility by helping us enforce law and order in Edo State,” he said.

The governor urged the new police boss to urgently change the security plan he inherited to curb crimes in the state.

“We need to change the entire security architecture in the state and together we will work to implement it and address all the security challenges in the next one week,” he said.

The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt response in granting the request for a new police commissioner by deploying a grounded operations police officer to serve in the state.

“We believe the new CP has the requisite experience to help in securing life and property in the state. We believe this is what he has been doing in his policing career and has the ability to replicate what he did in other states here in Edo. We will give him our support to help him succeed in fighting crime in the state,” Obaseki assured.

In his response, the new CP advised criminals to relocate from Edo State as it will no longer be a haven for their activities.

“I want to assure you that Edo State will no longer be a haven for criminals. I advise them to leave the state. Edo people and residents of the state should go to sleep with both eyes closed because there will be proper policing both in the day and at night,” the new CP said.

He explained that he is currently doing criminal profiling in the state and in a matter of days will come out with a clear strategy aimed at fighting crimes in the state.