CP expresses readiness for 2023 polls
Kaduna State Police Command has killed 21 armed bandits, arrested 780 suspected criminal elements, recovered 1,408 arms and ammunitions and rescued 206 kidnap victims.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yekini Ayoku, during the Command’s end-of-year press briefing said the killings, arrests and recoveries were parts of the command’s achievements in the last nine months.
Ayoku, who is the 40th Kaduna CP, also disclosed that 116 of the 780 arrested suspects had been convicted, while 1,446 rustled livestock were recovered at different parts of the state within the period under review.
He stated: “Upon assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State on April 8, 2022, on the heels of the train attack of March 28 and the earlier security breach around the Kaduna International Airport, the need for urgent safeguard of commuters/road users, especially along Kaduna–Abuja expressway in the absence of a functional rail and commercial air operation, was considered paramount and imperative.
“With these challenges on the ground, there was thus no time to spare and I had to immediately and swiftly review and rejig existing architecture, crime-map the state, re-strategise and mobilise all operational, tactical and intelligence resources, and deploy same massively, cognisant of the crimes prevalent in the different parts of the state.”
He, however, listed achievements of the command within the period under review to include: arrest of 780 suspected bandits and other criminal elements and recovery of 1,408 arms and ammunitions.”
On the security preparation for the 2023 general elections, the CP warned politicians to avoid actions and conducts that are contrary to extant laws guiding the electoral process, adding that nobody would be spared in the determination of the police to enforce the laws.
“The outgoing year 2022 witnessed the commencement of political activities as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections. The different political parties had their primaries to elect candidates for the various elective offices. Campaigns, you would recall, officially kicked off on September 28, 2022 in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines. Kaduna has had its fair share of rallies, processions and campaigns by the various political parties seeking the votes of the electorate, which have been peaceful.
“Being the lead agency in election security management, the police command has been keeping tabs on the political arena. I have had two meetings with stakeholders in the political process towards ensuring seamless, peaceful and hitch-free electioneering in the state. In the course of these engagements, it was reiterated to political actors in unmistakable terms that the political game has to be played strictly by the rules.
The need for political parties, office-seekers and their supporters to conform with the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines was re-emphasised.”
He expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman, for finding him worthy of the assignment and commended Governor Nasir el-Rufai, traditional rulers, sister security agencies and the media for their support to the command under his leadership.
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