Armed security on highways to checkmate criminality – Police

By Michael Ofulue
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The Ondo State Police Command, has explained reasons for the deployment of policemen on the major highways across the state, saying  it was targeted at checkmating criminality.

Following the incessant cases of criminality on the highways, the command had deployed both conventional and mobile armed personnel with their patrol vehicles to various locations across the state, especially the Ore -Benin -Lagos Roads and also Akure -Ado-Owo roads among other major roads in the state.

The Hope Metro gathered  that the policemen who were  placed in strategic positions across the state were understood to have been stopping suspicious vehicles and subject the occupants to thorough search before they were allowed to move.

Investigations conducted by our correspondent revealed that  the rate of extortions on the highways had increased in  the last  one week, where the policemen were posted to keep surveillance on the roads.

Some motorists were made  to part away with some amount of money.

When contacted,  the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said the rationale behind the presence of policemen on major highways, especially along Ondo-Ore-Benin -Lagos road was to beef up security  for the  overall safety of lives and property of innocent travellers .

His words: “The presence of our men on major roads across the state was for security reasons. We have fortified all identified problem areas and criminal hideouts in the state.

“If anybody has evidence against any officer doing anything contrary to protect lives and property which they are deployed to do, such individuals should forward his/her complaints to my office.  I can assure you that appropriate sanction would be meted out  to such policeman.

“Our men are combing bushes that were being used as hideouts by these criminal elements. People should not be disturbed by the heavy presence of the policemen. They are on instruction and that intervention is to bring criminals to book.

“People should go about their lawful and legitimate duties without fear of intimidation, harassment.

“The command, in conjunction with other security forces in the state are working collaboratively to tackle security challenges in the state and the country as a whole,” Joseph said.

The PPRO pleaded with the general public, especially motorists for whatever inconvenience the presence of police deployment on the roads might have caused them, just as he said solving crime-related issues is not for the police alone, but for all and sundry.

It would be recalled that some suspected hoodlums who operated at Ore-Kajola -Shagamu ExpressWay reportedly killed Mrs Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere national leader, Pa Ruben Fasoranti, whose death prompted many eminent Nigerians to call on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

They also called on the Inspector-General of Police to beef up adequate  security along the Benin-Ore -Shagamu Expressway to forestall similar occurrence.