Only 20% of Policemen are actively working -AIG

By Ebiowei Lawal

YENAGOA-The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 5, Mr Rasheed Akintunde, has said that it is only 20% of the men in the force that are actively doing their core duty of protecting lives and ensuring peace, law and order.

Stating that the remaining 80% are just busy providing personal security to some prominent people in the country.

Akintunde, revealed this on Thursday while addressing officers and men of the Bayelsa Command of the force at the police headquarters at Ovom, Yenagoa during a familiarization visit.

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He decried the situation where some prominent people in the society will seek more than 30 policemen to protect them, while the bulk of work for the members of the force rest on protecting the masses.

“Every big man want personal security, they want good number of policemen to come and secure them, instead of supporting the police to work and ensure a safer environment.

“Honourable want police security, unfortunately, even Reverend Fathers, Bishops now a days want police security, so that is why its remain only 20% to cover the whole places.

“If we can muster policemen in some government formations and deploy them to work on their core duty, it will yield positive result,” he said.

The AIG however urged all the officers in the command to do their work well and be committed to their duties, as the top hierarchy of the force will always reward them.

He also reminded them of the need to do their jobs with integrity and exhibit high level of professionalism in order to create good image for the force.

The Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Mr Don Awunah, while welcoming the AIG, promised to ensure that the officers and men of the command are focused on their duty of protecting lives and maintaining law in the state.