Police lose 435 men in 6 months –IGP

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase yesterday said 435 policemen and officers lost their lives in the past six months while performing their lawful duties.
Arase, who said this during a meeting with members of the Osun State chapter of Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), urged people at community level to support the police in fighting crime.
The police boss insisted that community policing is a panacea to the eradication of crime, and urged traditional rulers and community leader to assist the police in their respective domains.
The IGP also noted that the Nigerian Police Force lacks the numerical strength required to cover every nook and cranny of the country without the help of members of the public.
While speaking, Osun State Chairman of the PCRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, urged the IGP to approve creation of five additional Area Commands in Osun, to aid the job of the police in the state.
He noted that the three existing Area Commands in Osogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa were not enough to cater for the population of the state as new communities kept  springing up.
According to Shittu, “I want to appreciate the efforts of the officers and men of the Osun State Command in reducing crime in the state. We have noted the steps taken by our highly disciplined IGP since assumption of duty and we appreciate it.”
Shittu told the IGP that his prompt intervention in securing the freedom of Chief Olu Falae was commendable and served as a signal to  kidnappers and other criminals that it was no longer business as usual.