BY MAIRIGA Juliana, Minna
The new commissioner of police in Niger state, Mr. Austin Iwero Agbonlahon has taken over command from, Alhaji Zubairu Mu’azu, warning mischief makers and people with criminal intents to steer clear of the state in their own interests.
The out-gone commissioner of police in Niger state, Alhaji Zubairu Mu’azu said the fight against criminals under his leadership would have recorded more success if he had enough money and other logistics needed to check the menace.
Speaking when he handed over to his successor at the state police headquarters in Minna, Niger state, Zubairu said he did his best with limited resources to bring crime which recorded; 797 reported criminal cases and 1, 627 arrests across police formations in the state under control.
Zubairu who has spent barely a year in Niger state said he was able to recover; 27 AK 47 Rifles with 1, 980 rounds of live ammunitions, one Light Assault Rifle (LAR) with 203 live ammunition, 41 Single Barrel Gun, with 268 Live Cartridges from criminal elements.
Other weapons recovered from criminals included; one Sub Machine Gun (SMG) rifle with 6 rounds of ammunition and 31 locally made Pistols, with three Cartridges and 30 Revolver Pistols, 6 number of made in Ghana Pistols.
Series of invasion and raiding of some flash points and criminal hideouts in the state, Zubairu said also led to the recovery of; 2 double barrel guns, 19 Dane guns as well as 2, 501 Cattle, 110 Goats, 826 Sheep and dangerous weapons such as; Axes, Knives, Bows and Arrows.
Mu’azu Zubairu who is now to head Akwa Ibom state command also said the command under him between August last year and now, some of the modest achievements in fighting crime includes recovery of two Donkeys and One Pump Action Gun.
Controlling criminal elements Niger state is not without challenges, the former police commissioner said, adding the the topographical nature of the state, vast land, coupled with inaccessible road, forests and riverine.
Mu’azu Zubairu told his successor and others present during the brief handing over ceremony that,
“Fighting criminals in the state is not without challenges; we were faced with problems of inadequate logistics, lack of proper funding and shortage of man power”.
Responding, the new commissioner of police, Mr. Austin Iwero Agbonlahor in his brief remarks solicited for the support and cooperation of both indigenes and non-indigenes to enable the police guarantee security of lives and properties of citizens.
The new CP who commended journalists for doing well in reporting and exposing criminals called for more action that would guarantee the safeguarding of lives of Nigerlites and non-Nigerlites passing through the state to elsewhere by providing useful information that will help the police in achieving a crime-free Niger state.
“I want to also call on every Nigerlite to assist us with useful tips because information is a key factor to success in policing while security should be seen as everyone’s business. I am also appealing to members of the Media to assist us in achieving desired results”, Austin said.
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