By Laolu Elijah, Ibadan

A prominent Community Head within Ibadan metropolis, Elder Taiye Ayorinde has said it is impossible to expect effective policing with 400,000 policemen in a densely populated country like Nigeria with 200m people.

He said this during a familiarization visit paid to his Ekotedo residence and the community in Ibadan by the new Area Commander of the Nigerian Police Force, Iyaganku Area Command, ACP Mohammed Ajose.

With this statistics of 400,000 police to 200m people, he said it is unjustifiable to point accusing fingers at the police for not performing optimally.

Baale Ekotedo said, “The job of the police is not an easy one. Nigeria is over 200million and the number of police is just 400, 000. How do you want them to do it? That’s why people keep blaming the police without knowing that police are understaffed.”

On their welfare, he stated that people should try to visit barracks of these policemen to see the way they live.

“Go to a police barrack, you see how deteriorated the whole place is. We have to do something about that. Government at all levels should ensure that police officers are well taken care of and provided with necessary equipment in order to carry out their duties effectively.”

According to him, Ekotedo being one of the commercial hubs in Ibadan is and the hotspot that needs thorough policing though the community noting that there has been relative peace since he was installed as the community leader.

He emphasized the need to revisit the issue of the state police stressing that the current police system cannot cater for the security needs of Nigerians thus making state police a viable solution which will make each state to be fully in charge of its own security.

“The Police cannot man everywhere and this why we are clamouring for state police so that every state will be able to manage its own security and policing system. We need a system that will stabilize the performance of the police, a qualitative one.”

“I have been to at least three quarter of the world and I know how things are being done. There was a time I proposed the idea of walkie talkie on the shoulder. Policemen don’t need to carry it around with their hands. Carrying it on their shoulders will make communication easier. We need to equip our police”, he said.

“One other thing I want to say is that Police are not being handled properly. Many of them are being transferred various times from one state to another. What about the family? What arrangements has the government made to ensure the welfare of their children.”

In his address, the Area Commander, Iyaganku Area Command, ACP Mohammed Ajose sought for the support and cooperation of the community noting that the Inspector General of Police through the Commissioner of Police, Oyo Command has been making frantic efforts to address the issue of violent crimes and every other criminal activities in the country.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer, Mokola division, CSP Akinbowale, said that the IG has mandated the police to work hand in hand with the communities under their jurisdiction and that the heads of all units should make sure that their presence is felt in every community through effective patrol.

The meeting was attended by various leaders of the community which included, Chief Remi Adenugba, Chief Dapo Williams Member, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan North 1, Chief Adebayo Akande, an industrialist Chief Mrs Adeleye among others.