Okowa tasks police on kidnapping, criminal activities

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has challenged the police to tackle the menace of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He made the call yesterday when the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Benin, Alkali Usman, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba, the state capital.

He said: “There is no doubt that Delta State is relatively peaceful, but, kidnapping has become a unfortunate national issue. Although, most of the kidnappings happen in the highways, it is however a cause for worry.

“It is getting scary and soon, we will not be able to travel without seeking help from the security agencies. I know that there is not enough man power to provide protection for all travellers.”

He recalled the case of four Reverend fathers who were kidnapped in the state a couple of weeks ago, after same fate had befallen some Reverend sisters.

The governor disclosed that he has had talks with the commissioner of police on the challenges, adding that there is the need to involve neighbouring police commands in Edo, Bayelsa and even Anambra states to find lasting solution to the crime.

Okowa stressed the need to gather a lot of intelligence, noting that he strongly believes that these criminals are mobile, moving from one location to another.

Usman who was in Asaba with top officers of the zone informed the governor that he was on familiarisation tour of police formations in the zone.

He commended Okowa’s administration for contributing to the success stories of the police crime control in the state.

Meanwhile, the federal and Delta State governments have donated cash and relief materials to flood victims who departed to their homes from various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

The federal and state government paid the victim N10, 000 each, while the National Emergency Relief Agency, through the Ernest Ogwezzi-led state committee on flood, also gave each family a bag of rice.

In addition, victims from Kwale, Ashaka holding, and Obetim community camps also received large quantity of foodstuff, mattresses, mosquito nets and footwear, on behalf of the late President of Ndokwa Progressive Future, Mike Uwaka, who died a day to sharing of the consignment.

Some of the victims who had acquired industrial training skills like hairdressing and catering, in line with the state SMART Agenda policy, were given certificates, at the scheme coordinated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Child Care Development and Liaison Officer on NGOs, Benedicta Osakunih.