The new Kwara State Commissioner of police (CP), Olusola Amore, yesterday said in Ilorin, the state capital that the era of ‘kill and go’ was gone forever from the force.
He added that policemen would be held accountable for their conduct and behaviour because “it is an era of accountability and democratic policing. The era of ‘kill and go’ is gone. If you kill, you have to give account.”
While taking over office from the outgoing Commissioner, Sam Okaula, Amore said: “The fight against corruption will remain resolute. There is a policy of no road blocks. We will ensure that there will no roadblocks and bail is free. We have a very vibrant X-squad that will ensure that we are able to do it.
“The focus of this administration is going to be community-based policing. As police officers, we cannot do it alone. We need the cooperation of members of the community. There is no community without police and there is no police without community. We are all ‘little gods’ for this community.
“Police service will be made available and accessible to members of the public in Kwara State. All area commanders and DPOs will display their phone numbers on the wall of the police stations so that if anything is going you can call the DPO or area commander immediately.
“My own phone numbers will be written on the wall of the state headquarters so that you can call me if you cannot get any of them. All DPOs and area commanders will also have suggestion boxes to get members of the community involved in the way they are policed.
“The new Inspector-General has created ‘eminent persons consultative forum,’ every division will have this to able to mediate in all problems that arise from that area. The biggest aspect of community policing is multi-agency collaboration which now joins the police to the media, students, workers unions and all stakeholders.”