By Christopher Odamah, Ekpan

The Police Command in Delta State, on Tuesday launched a security action plan, code named Operation Puff Adder just as it advise criminals to repent or face the consequences of non-repentance.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP, Adeyinka Adeleke, who performed the inauguration today in Ekpan Divisional Headquarters, said Operation Puff Adder was specifically designed by the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to rid the country at large of all violet crimes and criminalities in the state and their sponsors.

In his inaugural speech, CP Adeyinka Adeleke said, “It is to reposition the Command for effective and efficient operations, which will go a long way in curbing incidences of kidnapping, robbery, banditry, cultism and other violent crimes in Delta State.

CP Adeleke said, “Operation Puff Adder is hereby established and launched in the Command today 7th May, 2019 to curb the activities of criminals in the State which will further ensure a safer environment for the people of Delta State and also to checkmate their sponsors.”

According to him, “It is aimed at taking Policing in Delta State closer to the Communities, with the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers heading the teams in their respective area of Operation, it will no doubt increase Police visibility and shore up the response time distress calls and serve as deterrence to criminals”.

“The Operation will be under my direct supervision. The Personnel for this operation are drawn from the conventional Police and tactical Units such as, Mobile Police Force, Special Protection Unit, Quick Response Squad, Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squad, State Intelligence and Investigation Bureau(SIIB) amongst other Units,” he explained further.

He urged Officers and men of the new Special Squad to be very professional in their operations and ensure they operate within the ambit of the law and in a manner that project the image of the Nigeria Police Force in the eyes of its citizenry, adding that “Within his short stay in the State, the Delta State Police Command has made modest achievements in crime fighting”.

The CP called for the support and cooperation of the community leaders and stakeholders, the civil society particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals among others in the fight against crimes.

In his words, “We have been able to arrest ninety two (92)suspects in connection with violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism whereby nine (9) kidnapped victims have been rescued and a total number of thirty eight (38) firearms and large number of ammunition have been recovered across the State”.

“Apart from being law abiding citizens, it is our civic responsibilities to assist law enforcement agents in the performance of their lawful duty; advising criminals to repent or face the consequences of non-repentance,” Police Boss said in his speech.

The Delta State Commissioner of Police used the medium to appreciate the Delta State Government under the leadership of Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for the numerous assistance the Command has received and the same time, solicit for continuous support for the success of this Operation Puff Adder.

It would be recalled that the Acting IGP on Friday April 5 launched “Operation Puff Adder” at Katari Bishin District, Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

He also said that “I wish to remind members of the public that the business of securing and keeping our society at peace is not that of security agents alone but everybody’s business. It is of paramount importance to secure the confidence, respect and cooperation of the public through our performance, conducts and attitude towards the members of the public”.

While calling on the Vigilance groups, security Stakeholders and all good people of Delta State to continue to support and assist the Police with useful intelligence and information on the criminals and their hideouts, so as to make this crime fighting project a success.