The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa, Mr Bola Longe, has described the state as the safest in the North-Central geopolitical zone, in spite of the recent security challenges.
Longe, who said this while addressing newsmen in Lafia, noted that notwithstanding the kidnappings, house break-ins, farmer-herders’ clashes and rape cases, Nasarawa was relatively safer than other states in the zone.
He attributed the safety in the state to the concerted efforts by the police command and other security outfits in tackling the challenges headlong.
“Occasionally, we have incidents of house break-ins, occasional kidnappings and robberies are minimal in the state.
“Our personnel in Nasarawa are highly professional and they are deployed professionally.
“As I have said before, the crime rate in this state is tolerable and the state is the safest in the north-central zone,” he said.
Longe identified some of the steps taken by the command to minimise crime in the state to include deployment of police officers to strategic areas and creation of 25 new pin-down points in Lafia.
The police commissioner also spoke about the activation of the Inspection-General of Police’s community strategy called “Operation Puff Adder” to minimise crime in the state.
He said that Keffi, Garaku, Gudi and Akwanga were now fully covered, adding “we are ready to deal decisively with anyone, who may want to make life difficult for the law- abiding citizens.
“Then, Nasarawa-Eggon, Shabu, Lafia, Jenkwe, Kadarko, Adogi, Assakio, Sabon Gida, Doma, Obi, Awe and Keana local government areas are also fully covered. We have deployed our men everywhere,” he said.
According to him, the command has resolved to make do with what is available to it, to protect the lives and property of the people of the state, instead of complaining about its challenges.
“I have said it before that it is a only non-professional, who does not know what he is doing, that will be complaining. I cannot be complaining that we don’t have sufficient manpower.
“We can make do with the manpower we have. I cannot complain that we don’t have sufficient vehicles. With the vehicles we have, we are moving around. What we need majorly is information.
“Community policing takes police activities to the grassroots and brings the grassroots nearer to the police; through adequate information dissemination, it will work.
“So, I have no handicap. Our men are working. The IGP is always supporting us. The governor is also supporting us.
“We will continue to do our best within the purview of our operational latitude, and by the grace of God, Nasarawa is a state that has low rate of criminal activities.
“It is the safest in the north-central zone and it will continue to be, because we will not rest on our oars.
“On daily basis, we are strategising on how to make things difficult for the criminals. We don’t sleep,” he said.
The police commissioner appealed to the people of the state to continue to assist the police with credible information that would lead to more successes in the fight against criminality.
“Rapists and armed robbers stay among the people. For the kidnappers, some of them stay in the bush and may be remote from where we are, but they are not remote from where the people are.
“That is why we are giving our phone numbers out, so that the public can, at any time, reach out to us.
“Sometimes, they don’t allow me to rest. People phone me day and night and I always direct our men to go wherever we have complaints,” he said.
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