The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, has announced a new security strategy built around intelligence gathering, technology and stronger cooperation with communities to tackle criminal activities across the state.
Erale, who assumed office as the 25th Commissioner of Police in Delta State, said his administration would move the command away from mainly reacting to crimes after they occur to preventing them through timely intelligence and data.
The commissioner stated this on Tuesday during his first press briefing in Asaba, where he outlined his priorities for the command.
He said protecting lives and property would remain the command’s major responsibility, while promising to work within the law to make Delta safer for residents, visitors and businesses.
According to him, Delta’s position as a major economic centre in the Niger Delta makes security a critical factor in sustaining development and attracting investment.
Five-point agenda
Erale said his administration would concentrate on five key areas: discipline and professionalism, community policing, cooperation with other security agencies, effective crime fighting and rebuilding public trust.
He warned police officers against corruption, extortion and other forms of misconduct, saying strict compliance with police regulations and professional ethics would be enforced.
The commissioner, however, said officers who demonstrate exceptional commitment, integrity and professionalism would be recognised and rewarded.
“We will build forward, not backwards, consolidating gains while confronting emerging threats with renewed energy and clarity,” he said.
Police to target crime hotspots
Erale said the command would study crime patterns across Delta and deploy personnel and resources to areas identified as hotspots.
He listed kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, violent crimes and oil-related offences among the threats that would receive increased attention.
He said the command would also review its existing strategies to determine which measures were effective and where changes were required.
According to him, tactical teams would be given measurable performance targets, while officers would undergo regular training to improve their ability to respond to new and evolving forms of crime.
The commissioner said intelligence, technology and data analysis would become increasingly important tools in the command’s operations.
The new CP also identified community cooperation as essential to successful policing.
He said the command would strengthen its engagement with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, religious bodies and other stakeholders.
Erale urged residents to report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could help the police prevent crimes.
“If you see something, say something,” he told Deltans.
He said the police must become more accessible and responsive to the security concerns of individual communities, stressing that residents should see officers as partners in protecting their communities.
Erale also promised closer cooperation with other security agencies through joint operations, intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols and rapid responses to emerging threats.
He said effective collaboration would enable security agencies to respond more quickly to criminal activities and threats that cut across different jurisdictions.
The commissioner further promised to improve police visibility and responsiveness across the state.
Another major focus of the new administration, Erale said, would be restoring public confidence in the police.
He promised that complaints from residents would be handled fairly and promptly and that members of the public would be treated with dignity irrespective of their social or economic status.
He said professionalism, fairness and accountability would guide the conduct of officers under his leadership.
Erale acknowledged the work of his predecessor, CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, and the command’s management team, saying he would consolidate the gains already recorded while introducing measures to address emerging security challenges.
He urged police officers and men to embrace his agenda and maintain discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The commissioner also appealed to the media to maintain a professional relationship with the command, promising openness and cooperation.
Erale’s success will ultimately be measured not by the plans announced, but by whether residents see a noticeable reduction in crime and an improvement in police response.
With kidnapping, cultism, robbery, cybercrime and oil-related offences among the major threats facing Delta, the new CP faces the task of turning intelligence, community cooperation and stronger policing into visible results.
For now, his message to Deltans is clear: the police intend to prevent crime before it happens, respond faster when threats emerge and rebuild public trust along the way.
