AKWA IBOM LAUNCHES 50 PATROL VEHICLES FOR QUICK RESPONSE SQUAD
Akwa Ibom Government has commissioned 50 well-equipped patrol vehicles for the formal take-off of the Quick Response Squad comprising police personnel to combat crime in the state. Similarly, the state government had on January 23, commissioned 133 patrol vehicles equipped with communication gadgets for Operation Thunder, comprising personnel of Army, Navy, Air force and State Security Service to fight crime in the state.
Governor Godswill O. Akpabio, speaking during the colourful ceremony yesterday held at the premises of Government House Banquet hall, Uyo said development everywhere attracted bad and good people, observing that the uncommon transformation of the state in the last few years attracted many people to the state either for good or for bad reason.
Akpabio noted that it was the duty of every government to protect the lives and property of its citizens, remarking: 'Those who seek to destroy our peace would never have peace. Anybody who first fires shot at another person fires first at the Commissioner of Police and the governor.
'We must be our brother's keeper. He who sees a viper in the village square and refuses to kill it puts his family and household at greater risk. Let everyone who knows a criminal quietly report the suspect with flamboyant lifestyle to the security agents for arrest and interrogation,' the governor implored.
He directed members of the state House of Assembly to open constituency offices in their respective areas for people to walk in and provide information that could lead to the arrest of suspected criminals.
The state chief executive also directed transition chairmen in the state to form committees that would assist the security agents in gathering information and intelligence on criminal activities.
While sympathizing with victims of the bomb blast nation-wide and other criminal activities, he hinted that he had redeemed the N50 million he pledged to the victims of Madalla bomb blast in Niger State that occurred on Christmas Day last year.
Akpabio called for a minute silence in honor of the bomb blast victims in various parts of the country and stressed the need for people to live in peace and unity with one another to speed up development of the country.
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar described the Governor as a man with passion borne out visions, patriotism, and development strides for the people.
Abubakar commened the Governor for funding the police force in the state particularly the formation of Quick Response Squad which was anti-crime strategy and on-slaughter against crime.
He described the squad as an effective andf strategic police to combat crimes and pledged his support to the unit.
The acting Inspector General of Police therefore used the occasion to advise officers in tyhe unit to dedicated, disciplined and uncompromising in combating crimes, and called on other security agents in the state to collaborate with the police in crime fighting.
The state Commissioner, Akwa Ibom Police Command, Mr. Solomon Arase expressed his joy on the launching of the squad, stating 'I feel professionally fulfilled because today marks a major advacement of my professional vision for a security mechanism that will be potent enough to deter crime, mobile enough to respond to distress calls, civil enough to provide social support services to needy members of the public and sustainable enough for long-term operational efficiency in Akwa Ibom State'.
Arase remarked that the achievements would have remained illusionary but for the consistent support of Governor Akpabio who has been uncompromising in empowering the police for optimal service delivery in the state.
According to him, 'This support has accounted for the unprecendented breakthroughs that have been recored over the past months by then police in the war against high-level criminals involved inkidnapping, armed robbery and other organized crimes in the state. Today, I can make bold to state that Akwa Ibom has descended from its erstwhile unenviable height of being a kidnappers and armed robbers' den to a peaceful and secure state where investorts can once again engage in their lawful businesses without fear'.
While thanking the state government for approving the establishment of
the squad, providing 50 patrol vehicles and logistics in addition to
the proposed procurement of five Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCS), he explained
that Quick Response Squad was a dedicated anti-creme squad that would
be committed to patrolling and securing the public space, address
high-levellllllll crimes and re-assure members of the public of the
determination and capacity to guarantee security