TheCable

Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, has donated 25 new patrol vehicles and “a state-of-the-art surveillance drone” to the state police command.

Lekan Adeniran, chief press secretary to the governor, said in a statement that the donation was made when Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), paid a three-day official visit to Ogun last week.

“While announcing the donations, Prince Abiodun recalled that in the last one and half years, over 100 vehicles, 100 motor bikes and more than 300 units of walkie talkies have been donated to security agencies along with many other initiatives. These initiatives have ensured that Ogun remains one of the most peaceful states in the country,” the statement reads.

During the visit, Egbetokun disclosed plans to establish more police stations and area commands in the state.

“We are going to create more police stations to match the development that is going on in the state. We will establish more area commands,” Egbetokun said.

“We are going to bring additional mobile police squadron into Ogun state. We must do everything to secure this state because Ogun state is very important to Nigeria.

“Ogun state, no doubt, is the industrial capital of this country, and we can’t do less than paying the necessary attention to the state. So, in terms of security, we are going to do the best that is needed for the state.”

Welcoming the IGP, Abiodun expressed “deep appreciation” for the visit.

The governor said it is a privilege that a son of Ogun is leading the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He commended the IGP for his “exceptional leadership, reflecting intelligence, capacity, and a profound sense of duty”.

“The governor commended the strategic redesigning of operational strategies and administrative policies, driven by purposeful leadership and capacity enhancement,” the statement reads.

“He also noted the IGP’s commitment to positive police-citizen relations, which has elevated trust and redefined the police force.”

The governor said the drone “is one of the initiatives of the Ogun state government to continue to ensure that we protect the lives of those who are living in Ogun state or those who are passing through Ogun state”.

“One of the reasons why we took the decision to acquire this drone was because of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which remains one of our most vulnerable points for those that are travelling through Ogun state, being the gateway to the rest of the country and the West African sub-region,” Abiodun was quoted as saying.

“The collaborative efforts of the Lagos state police command, Ogun state police command, and the Oyo state police command have significantly reduced the level of crime and criminal activities on that road alongside other law enforcement agencies.

“But we believe that with the deployment of this kind of technology, it will allow for shorter response time when there is an incident like we experienced in the past when miscreants kidnapped innocent victims on that road and run into nearby bushes.”