** Calls for Enhanced Police Visibility

By Festus Fifen

Nigeria Inspector General of Police IGP Olukayode Egbetokun on Thursday emphasized the urgent need for increased police visibility in communities across Nigeria.

His remarks came in the wake of a series of high-profile abductions that have rattled citizens and raised concerns about public safety in recent times.

The IGP in a compelling address at the Strategic Police Officers Conference held in Abuja referenced the kidnappings of thirty-eight worshippers from the Christ Apostolic Church in Ekiti, twenty-five schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi, and a violent attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.

” These incidents have highlighted a troubling trend: as crime appears more frequently in community discourse, citizens are often left feeling isolated from the very security forces tasked with their protection.

“We must recognize that peace maintained in one location but violated in another is not peace,” Egbetokun stated, underscoring the necessity for stakeholders within law enforcement to uphold a higher standard of accountability. He urged officers to cultivate a more visible presence in the communities they serve, articulating that citizens should encounter police officers with regularity, rather than being confronted primarily with the repercussions of criminal actions.

The IGP pledged to eradicate the perception of inactivity within the force, asserting, “We might not have been doing enough, but we are certainly not doing nothing.” He reaffirmed the commitment to protect vulnerable communities and to ensure that the police remain a reassuring presence in the lives of citizens.

Recent efforts by the Nigeria Police Force were highlighted as examples of successful coordinated responses, resulting in the prompt rescue of victims from the recent kidnappings.

Egbetokun commended the collaborative efforts of various security agencies, local governments, and community leaders, emphasizing that unity and intelligence-driven operations are crucial in the fight against crime.

Moving forward, the inspector-general stated that the established template of coordinated action in responding to threats must be further institutionalized to combat emerging security challenges more effectively. “We have done it before, and we shall not retreat,” Egbetokun asserted, ending his address with a firm commitment to enhancing police-community relationships and ensuring that citizens once again see a law enforcement presence as a norm rather than an exception.