Police commissioner Bethrand Onuoha has ordered watertight security in Kogi ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Mr Onuoha gave the assurance in a statement on Monday in Lokoja.

The statement said Mr Onuoha addressed members of the command’s management team and the tactical commanders at the command’s headquarters in Lokoja.

Mr Onuoha further disclosed that the command had adopted comprehensive crime prevention and control strategies to ensure adequate security of life and property throughout the yuletide.

He assured the residents that the command had sustained efforts in synergy with other security agencies to fight crimes and criminality and improve public safety and security across Kogi.

Mr Onuoha charged the divisional police officers and their supervisory area commanders with deploying human and other operational assets to carry out confidence-building and crime prevention patrols.

The police commissioner added that the patrols should be done on major highways, residential and vulnerable points, places of worship and other places of interest.

He further urged the officers to conduct undercover operations to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crime and criminality across Kogi.

Mr Onuoha also charged the men to ensure that the crime detection was prompt and to serve as an effective deterrent to all criminals. He assured the Kogi people that adequate security measures were in place.

Mr Onuoha urged them to remain security conscious throughout the yuletide and to report any suspicious movement or activities within their community.

He noted that the public had a critical role to play in sustaining the peace in their community through effective collaboration with the police and other security agencies by way of sharing information and intelligence that would assist in crime control and management.

However, he called on parents to caution their children and wards not to fall victim to fireworks, warning that anyone caught causing trouble would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Mr Onuoha advised all law-abiding residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear. He warned that the command would not hesitate to apply the full wrath of the law against persons who took laws into their hands.

(NAN)