The Kwara State Police Command has called for additional operational vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carriers, communication and surveillance equipment, as well as more manpower to strengthen its capacity to combat crime and respond to security threats across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, made the request on Thursday when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 8, Betty Otimenyin, undertook an operational inspection tour of the command in Ilorin.
The visit was aimed at assessing the command’s operational readiness, personnel capacity and professional policing standards.
According to a statement issued by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, Adekimi presented the command’s security and operational outlook to the AIG during the inspection.
The commissioner identified manpower, operational mobility, communication facilities and surveillance equipment as areas requiring further intervention.
“Manpower, operational vehicles including Armoured Personnel Carriers, communication and surveillance equipment are critical areas requiring further intervention,” Adekimi said.
He said the command had continued to deploy intelligence-led policing, strategic deployment and visibility patrols to strengthen crime prevention and response across Kwara State.
Adekimi also said continuous personnel training was being sustained to improve the competence and effectiveness of officers in dealing with security challenges.
While acknowledging the support provided by the Kwara State Government, the commissioner said additional resources would enable the command to consolidate its operational gains and improve service delivery.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening policing in line with the strategic policing initiatives of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
Speaking during the inspection, Otimenyin commended the officers and men for their preparedness, particularly their sustained combat-readiness and firearms proficiency training.
She said the training would enhance personnel competence and their ability to respond effectively to security threats.
The AIG, however, stressed that improved operational capacity must ultimately translate into safer communities and better treatment of citizens.
“Operational strength must translate to safer communities and better treatment of citizens,” she said.
Otimenyin urged personnel to maintain professionalism, discipline and accountability while respecting the fundamental human rights of members of the public.
She also cautioned officers against extortion, intimidation and abuse of authority, stressing that the police uniform represented a responsibility to protect citizens.
“The uniform represents a responsibility to protect and must never become an instrument of fear,” she said.
The AIG reminded supervisory officers that they were responsible for personnel under their watch and must ensure accountability throughout the chain of command.
With political activities gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, Otimenyin charged police personnel to remain apolitical, impartial and professional.
She said the responsibility of the police was to secure the political space, preserve public order and protect all lawful participants without preference or partisan involvement.
The AIG also interacted with officers across different cadres during the visit, providing guidance on operational and professional matters.
She commended the personnel for the successes recorded and urged them to sustain the tempo while ensuring that improved operational capacity was reflected in the quality of policing experienced by residents.
The inspection therefore placed equal emphasis on strengthening the command’s operational capacity and ensuring that additional resources are matched by professionalism, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.
