Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has called on the Inspector-General of Police to deploy adequate police personnel to states in order to effectively tackle insecurity across the country.
He spoke last Monday in Asaba while decorating his orderly, Mr David Ebute, with his new rank of inspector.
The governor said that there was need to deploy more manpower to states in order to beef-up security in the country.
“The police in Delta are doing very well given the shortage of manpower.
“It is my hope that with the recent recruitment into the Police Force, more manpower will be deployed to the state.
“They will cover the various identified black spots and improve on the security situation in the country.
“A nation with a growing population like Nigeria needs to improve on the manpower and equip the police so as to fight crime and maintain peace and order”, he said.
The governor also called for the strengthening and regulation of neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups, as they provide vital information about their communities to the police.
“There is the need to look at the community policing and neighbourhood watch.
“We are working with the House of Assembly to pass the Neighbourhood Watch and Vigilante Bill so as to give the police more intelligence and information in our communities.
“The neighbourhood watch will help the police to handle various security issues in these communities,” Okowa said.
He commended the security agencies, adding that the synergy amongst security agencies in the state had reduced crime drastically.
He also commended Ebute, for his discipline and hard work which he said, earned him the promotion and urged him to see his promotion as a call to greater duty and service.
Responding, Ebute thanked the governor and the Police Force for the opportunity they gave him to serve and promised that he would continue to be diligent in his duties.