THE Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South West, Johnson Kokumo, has revealed that the police authorities will increase the number of its personnel and provide more patrol vans on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with a view to chasing out kidnappers and other armed bandits on the road.
He made this revelation, on Friday, while leading other top police officers on an on the spot assessment of some flashpoints along the road.
It was gathered that the step is connected with the recent upsurge in the cases of kidnapping, banditry and other vices which has resulted in the death of many travellers while some kidnap victims paid substantial amount of money as ransom.
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Kokumo said the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has directed him and the Commissioner of Police, Oyo Command, Adebowale Williams, to carry out security surveillance of the road and make the necessary recommendation that would put a halt to kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices.
He said, “The Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman who is seriously concerned about the spate of kidnapping and other crimes along Lagos-Ibadan expressway has directed me to come and see things and put the report together with the Commissioner of Police, Oyo Command, Adebowale Williams in order to find lasting solution to the heinous crime
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“We have seen what and what have been responsible for what could be aptly described as cause for action and we are going to address them.
“We have made our observations. Where we do not have enough security personnel will be corrected. Also, the areas where we have to deplore more patrol vans for effective monitoring and quick answering to distress calls will be looked into.
“We are going to draw the attention of the affected local government authorities and agencies of government to the grown up bushes and shrubs at the verge of the expressway. We want to have an express road where reasonable metres of the roads are visible.
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“Also, we are calling on the inhabitant of the communities along the expressway to cooperate with the police authority in its effort to fish out the criminals. The perpetrators are not foreigners. They live among the people.”