Naira, fuel scarcity: Ogun new CP, Mba warns against attack on banks, INEC, others

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

The new Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Frank Mba has warmed that the state police command will not fold its hands and allow any criminal elements hide under whatever guise to disrupt the peace of the state.

Mba, according to statement from the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi issued this warning over the weekend during confidence-building patrol conducted by the police and other security forces in the state.

The exercise was said to have been targeted at assuring residents of the resolve of the security agencies to protect lives and property, prevent breakdown of law and order, and improve public safety and security especially with the presidential election in about a week away.

The CP was said to have disclosed that intelligence at the disposal of the state command indicated that some criminal elements were planning to take advantage of the challenging economic situation of naira and fuel scarcity to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State.

He has therefore warned that the Police, will not fold its arms and allow persons with criminal intentions, to hide under any guise whatsoever, to unleash mayhem on residents, private and public property, and critical national infrastructure, including banks and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The CP assured that necessary security architecture had been been put in place to protect the peace loving people of the State while the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), have been directed to arrest and bring to book, any person or group wanting to foment trouble and cause breach of peace in the State.

To this end, the CP, while empathizing with residents, enjoined all parents and guardians, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political and religious leaders, amongst other critical stakeholders, to prevail on their children, wards and followers, not to resort to violence, as all necessary actions are being taken to further ease the pains of the people in this regard.

Mba, however commended the residents of the State for their resilience and peaceful conduct so far in the face of the biting challenges, resulting from the new Naira policy and paucity of fuel supply urging them to remain law abiding as the authority is working to resolve the challenges.