Assistant Inspector General of Police, MrTundeOgunsakin, says the major challenges he had in Rivers State as the Commissioner of Police for about seven months were the issue of kidnapping, cult related matters and armed robbery.
AIG Ogunsakin stated this during his farewell briefing and official handover to CP Dan Bature at the Police Officers Mess Port Harcourt.
According to Ogunsakin, when he assumed office on February 12, 2014, kidnapping was a major concern for the State and as such he undertook the task of tackling it from different angles. He said he embarked on sensitization and involvement of every member of the society in the fight against kidnapping and its perpetrators. This, he said informed the launching of a campaign in Port Harcourt which was well attended by the different stakeholders in the society.
He continued that to achieve success in his move against the unrest and improve the police performance, separate units were formed to tackle the crimes of Kidnapping and Cultism within the State. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit was formed and placed within the Mini-Okoro Police Division premises, while the Anti-Cult Unit was moved from the State Criminal Investigation Department to the SOS premises. These he said were done to give a degree of autonomy to the operations of these Units as well as speed up their response time to fighting respective crimes.
Restating his achievement in tackling crime during the period as CP in the State, he said, a large number of suspects have been arrested with 1745 ammunitions and firearms recovered by the different Divisions and Units. Over 46 victims of kidnap have been rescued within this time also, he said.
Narrating further, he said, “In February, a total of 181 cases were recorded, of which 257 suspects were arrested. A total of 98 cases were charged to court alongside 175 suspects, out of which 33 suspects were convicted, 78 are awaiting trial, while 36 were discharged and acquitted.
“In March, a total of 171 cases were recorded, of which 213 suspects were arrested. Of these, 99 cases were charged to court alongside 166 suspects, out of which 36 suspects were convicted, 72 are awaiting trial, while 16 were discharged and acquitted.
“In April, a total of 198 cases were recorded, of which 344 suspects were arrested. Of these, 128 cases were charged to court alongside 243 suspects, out of which 84 suspects were convicted, 135 are awaiting trial, while 24 were discharged and acquitted.
“From May till date, a total of 819 cases were recorded with the Command still facing the challenge of charging suspects to court owing to the ongoing strike by the judiciary”, Ogunsakin stated.
He added that the kidnapping incidence has been reduced by 25%.
In area of armed robbery, he commended the assiduous efforts of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, saying that a rise in apprehension to the measure of 75% was as a result of the activities rising from present and imminent Politicking in the state.
Attributing his success to the cooperation of the media and general public, he encouraged everyone to give same hand of fellowship afforded him to his successor, CP Dan S, Bature, acknowledging that the new Commissioner is a committed Police officer that has all it takes to lead the Command to great heights.
In his maiden address, CP Bature urged the media to assist the Police as it relates to security, commending the AIG, he pledged to sustain his good work in the State.
In recognition of his good relationship with the media, the Crime and Judicial Press Corps presented the former CP, Ogunsakin, an award of Excellency.
Commending the AIG, the Chairman of the Press Corps, Deacon Samuel Chinda, said short stay was successful in the area of making the State peaceful and crime free.
