Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, has said that his men manning the borders need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable them carry out their function effectively.
Adie who spoke in Akure while distributing over 2000 face masks to policemen across the state warned against abuse of citizens in an attempt to enforce COVID-19 lockdown.
The Ondo CP however vowed to deal with any police officers caught compromising the federal government directives on ban on inter state movement.
Adie said the reports from citizens in border communities on activities of policemen at the borders were becoming worrisome.
Addressing Divisional Police Officers whose stations are located in borders communities and others drafted to ensure strict compliance with the federal government directive, the CP reminded the police officers that only workers on essential duties such as medical personnel, journalists and others are exempted.
He said it was wrong for the police to be fingered as being responsible for continued inter state movement.
According to him, “Our personnel are compromising at our various inter state boundary points. Because of that persons who are not supposed to be crisscrossing the country are getting through
“We will not condone any such act. Members of the public are the ones reporting because they are experiencing it and it must stop. It is your responsibility as Divisional Police Officers to ensure this stopped. We must monitor and keep talking to the rank and file. They must be firm in the discharge of their duties. They must be firm in the implementation of ban on inter state movement.
“We must implement it. It is your responsibility to monitor the them. These 2000 pieces of face masks are distributed to enable you perform your duties at this critical period.
“I want to also appeal to the citizens. As they are giving out palliatives, they should not think that police personnel don’t need palliatives especially the PPE, face mask, hand gloves and sanitisers and other body wears.“