The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command to intensify stop and search operations.

Mr Egbetokun gave the directive on Wednesday in Abuja during his familiarisation visit to the command.

He, however, warned the personnel against any form of extortion in the course of the operation.

The AIG said they should engage local communities to ensure proper security in the FCT.

Mr Egbetokun called on the personnel to work together to restore professionalism in policing and ensure efficient utilization of resources.

The AIG said the essence of police duties was protecting and promoting human rights, adding that every offence violates somebody’s right.

He said modern policing was intelligence-led, community-based and technology-driven, as such, officers and men should work harder to enhance their intelligence capacity and improve visibility policing.

The AIG said the recent deployment of newly passed out recruit constables would boost policing in Nigeria. He called on the command to sustain its strategic partnership with other security agencies and stakeholders.

“We must improve traffic control within the FCT. Traffic officers must be on their toes to ensure traffic flows within the FCT. We must reinvigorate stop and search, effectively man black spots and sustain the present tempo in raid of criminal hideouts,” stated Mr Egbetokun. “Scavenging has been banned within the FCT and we must not allow them to continue to operate.”

The FCT police commissioner, Sadiq Abubakar, said the command had developed and implemented operational strategies to combat crime. He said the development was in compliance with the vision and mission of the inspector general of police, Usman Baba.

Mr Abubakar said the operational policies and strategies had led to arresting 18 armed robbery suspects and the recovery of 1,159 exhibits, including arms and ammunition of various calibres. He said vehicles, illicit drugs and other harmful weapons were among the exhibits.

He said 24 kidnapped victims were rescued by the command and reunited with their families.

(NAN)