The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Aina Adesola, has commended the traditional ruler of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso Abe I, for helping to maintain peace in the area, while also calling for stronger collaboration to tackle rising crimes such as drug abuse, cultism, and kidnapping.
The police commissioner made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the palace of the monarch in Effurun, as part of a familiarisation tour to the newly created Effurun Area Command.
During the visit, CP Adesola expressed appreciation to the monarch for the relative peace enjoyed in Uvwie Kingdom, noting that the cooperation between the palace and security agencies has played an important role in maintaining stability in the community.
However, he urged the monarch and community leaders to strengthen their partnership with the police in addressing emerging security threats, particularly the growing concerns around drug abuse, cult-related activities, and kidnapping.
The police commissioner also warned political actors and community leaders against interfering in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
According to him, such interference can weaken the justice system and embolden criminals.
“It is only in Nigeria that you see families of criminals, kidnappers, and cultists moving from one police station to another, trying to influence police officers or using social media blackmail to bend the law,” he said.
He added that Uvwie had recorded fewer cases of such interference compared to other areas, which he said may partly explain the declining level of crime in the local government area.
CP Adesola further praised the monarch for establishing a palace security committee tasked with monitoring criminal activities within the community.
He encouraged residents and community leaders to discreetly report criminal activities directly to the Area Commander or Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) instead of spreading information publicly.
The police commissioner also stressed the importance of parents guiding their children properly to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities.
He advised parents not to support or tolerate children who engage in unlawful behaviour.
Using his own upbringing as an example, CP Adesola said he was disciplined by his mother whenever he behaved improperly, which helped shape his character.
CP Adesola also advised community leaders to properly screen commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as okada riders, noting that some of them may be working with criminal groups.
He raised concerns about criminal elements entering the country from neighbouring nations and also pointed to the influence of social media as a factor contributing to the rise in crime among young people.
In his response, the traditional ruler of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso Abe I, blamed the rising crime in some communities on the declining respect for traditional institutions.
According to the monarch, traditional rulers are increasingly finding it difficult to discipline erring youths and criminal elements because their authority is often challenged.
He also expressed frustration that suspects arrested for crimes are sometimes released, after which they return to threaten those who reported them to security agencies.
“There are many wrong things happening in society today,” the monarch said.
He also lamented that traditional rulers who take strong action against criminals in their communities sometimes end up being invited by the police or questioned by some human rights groups, making it harder to effectively fight crime.
The monarch stressed that stronger cooperation between security agencies and traditional institutions would make it easier to address criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Effurun Area Command, Aliyu Shaba, described the area command as strategically important because Effurun serves as a major commercial hub in Delta State.
According to him, the area experiences significant socio-economic activities, which also create unique security challenges that require proactive policing and strong community engagement.
ACP Shaba commended the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom for his leadership and support for the police, noting that the monarch has consistently encouraged his chiefs not to interfere in police duties.
Despite the cooperation, ACP Shaba highlighted some operational challenges facing the command.
He specifically requested assistance in repairing the command’s Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which has been out of service for a long time despite being an important asset for high-risk operations and patrols in volatile areas.
He also called for the deployment of additional police personnel, including inspectors and rank-and-file officers, to strengthen security operations in the area.
The assistant commissioner emphasized that effective communication is essential for modern policing, especially for coordinating patrol teams, responding quickly to emergency calls, and ensuring smooth information flow among police units within the area command.
Both the police leadership and the traditional institution agreed that stronger cooperation between security agencies, community leaders, and residents will be critical in addressing crime and ensuring lasting peace in Uvwie and surrounding communities.
