Edo safe to reside, do business, police boss declares

Police Commissioner Johnson Babatunde Kokumo has said that Edo remains the safest state in Nigeria to reside and engage in business activities with ease.

Kokumo disclosed this on Wednesday, during a visit to the Chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government Council Area, Comrade Destiny Enabulele.

He noted that officers would be sent to the Local Government Council Area to make an assessment of the terrain for a possible deployment of troops as soon as possible.

Kokumo’s visit afforded him the opportunity to criss cross the local government area to assess the security architecture of the area said, “We may not be able to eliminate crime and criminality completely, but I make bold to say that Edo State remains one of the safest states in Nigeria to live and to do business.

“If you go through the print and the electronic media, you will agree with me that Edo State is a safe haven, and those of us providing security, especially the police, we will not rest on our oars,” Kokumo said.

Enabulele had earlier requested for an additional police division for the local government.

His request was sequel to the alleged ceeding of the police post at Usen to the police division at Okada, administrative headquarters of Ovia North-East local government area.

The Ekiadolor Area Commander, ACP Aliko Dankoli, explained that the ceeding of Usen Police post to Okada division is merely for administrative reasons, noting it is closer to Okada than Iguobazuwa, headquarters of Ovia South West.

Dankoli however recommended that the proposed new division be sited at Igbogui town, along Benin/Ore expressway.

“For the additional division, I can assure you that it would be approved. If you even want two, you will have it. Why I am saying so is that, the more divisions you have, the safer you are,” Kokumo said.

Also, the Commander of 4 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Brig.Gen. Ibrahim Garba, had on Tuesday paid a working visit to Ovia South-West local government area, to explore the possibility of deploying troops to Ovia South-West to boost security.