| The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State command, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, has withdrawn all policemen attached to influential individuals in the state due to the upsurge in robbery incidents and other crimes in Ibadan, the state capital. Similarly, police personnel earlier stationed in different formations have been withdrawn to the field to strengthen patrol of flashpoints and strategic points. Divisional Police Officers have also been put on the alert to mobilise their men to crime scenes on receiving distress calls. Investigation by Sunday Punch revealed that the measures were part of the new strategies adopted by the CP to reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of robbery attacks and violent disturbances within the city. It was equally gathered that Ekpoudom had initiated discussions with bank officials within the city to forge a common front with the police in the fight against bank robberies. The number of riot policemen on patrol had also been increased while the commissioner is now personally involved in coordinating and monitoring their activities. A top security source said these proactive measures were put in place in view of the volatile status of Ibadan, which had been exacerbated by the activities of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. For instance, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, who before now enjoyed police protection, had the men withdrawn about a week ago in furtherance of the new order. The lead counsel in the election petition by the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent. He said, “It’s true that the commissioner withdrew my police security details about a week ago, which he said was on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.” But, due to the recent attempted attacks on the senior advocate during the week, it was gathered that the police had reconsidered its decision on his protection. Ekpoudom had on Tuesday outlawed the use of siren by those not coverred by the Constitution, including bullion vans. He said the siren had been discovered to be a major attraction to dare-devil bandits who normally laid ambush for them. Most residents of Ibadan now live in fear over the recent surge in armed robbery attacks by armed robbers riding on motorbikes who now target customers departing banks after huge withdrawal. Investigation show that the motorbike robbers, known as catch-in-the-air or one chance robbers had gone on the loose around the precinct of banks. The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, told our correspondent in an interview that the new CP had zero tolerance for robbery and brigandage. He said, “It’s true that we have intensified patrol and monitoring and no senior police officer is left behind. We must give credit to the new CP who had adopted an all-inclusive measure to curb crime in the state. |
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Aug52007