By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has urged security agencies to invest more time and resources in intelligence gathering in their effort to overcome banditry, insurgency and other security challenges.
Diri spoke at a retirement party organised by the state government in honour of the outgoing Commissioner of Police (CP) Mike Okoli, at the Dappa Biriye Conference Centre in Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor stressed the need for security agencies to adopt a holistic approach that would encourage the participation of civilians in their campaign against insecurity.
According to Diri, until security is seen as everyone’s business in the society, the use of kinetic approach to address security challenges will yield little or no meaningful result.
Calling on the police and other security outfits to be above board in the performance of their duties, he urged the citizens to always volunteer information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminals.
The governor said: “Security is everybody’s business, but more often than not, it is seen as nobody’s responsibility. Sometimes we want somebody to do something about security, and nobody does anything about it, and at the end of the day, security is not taken seriously.
“But somebody has to do something about security. We should all do something about security so that our state can be safe.
“I will like our security agencies to be more proactive and preemptive in carrying out their duties because it is cheaper to be preventive. They have to make more effort in the area of intelligence gathering from the civil populace.”
Describing CP Okoli as a refined product with an unblemished record throughout his service in the Nigeria Police, Diri said the society had a lot to learn from the wealth of experience of the retiring Commissioner of Police.
He acknowledged the sacrifices being made by security personnel, noting that some of them get killed or become paralysed in the course of securing lives and property, and therefore, must be appreciated in the society.
The Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and the Commandant of Police Staff College, Jos, Assistant Inspector General, Don Awunah, acknowledged CP Okoli’s contributions to the relative peace and security in the state.
They described him as an outstanding and an accomplished officer with an unblemished track record in the Nigeria Police and wished him the best in his future endeavours.
Okoli thanked Governor Diri, and his deputy, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, for honouring him by hosting his retirement thanksgiving reception.
He also thanked the service commanders and everyone who made out time to attend the event, especially the Commandant of Police Staff College, Jos, A.I.G. Don Awunah, and prayed God to bless them.
The reception was attended by government functionaries and service commanders in the state, including the Commander, 16 Brigade Yenagoa, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. A. O. Awolo; the Commander, NNS Soroh, Commodore Peter Effah, and the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Christiana Abiakam-Omanu, among others..
Leave a Reply