Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Victor Olaiya, has issued a stern reminder to officers of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command that their effectiveness will be measured by the level of crime in the nation’s capital.
Speaking during an inspection visit to the FCT Command in Abuja on Wednesday, AIG Olaiya noted that law enforcement must be result-driven, adding that the public’s perception of the police is directly tied to how safe communities are under their watch.
“We should know that our performance will always be judged based on the crime rate in our command. If it is low, it means we are doing our job, but if it is high, it indicates otherwise. We must live up to expectations, “ Olaiya said.
He stressed the unique security responsibility of the FCT, being home to the country’s first and second families as well as foreign diplomats, and called on officers to remain vigilant and committed to duty.
“This command is where the first and second families of the Federation reside, plus diplomats. We cannot afford to let anything go wrong,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the FCT Police Command so far, Olaiya urged officers not to rest on their oars, noting that “the reward for hard work is more hard work.” He called for stricter supervision from senior officers and encouraged continuous professionalism across all ranks.
The AIG also highlighted the growing concern of drug abuse within the territory.
“I have taken note of the prevalence of hard drugs in the FCT. We will work with the command to see ways we can reduce it to a manageable level,” he said.
In addition, he called on police officers to uphold integrity and discipline, reminding them that the actions of a single officer reflect on the entire force.
“The action of any police officer, whether good or bad, reflects on the whole force. I urge all of you to exhibit good behaviour and represent the force well wherever you are,” he said.
The FCT CP Ajao Adewale thanked Olaiya for choosing to pay his maiden visit to the command and promised to put the necessary security apparatuses in place to secure the nation’s capital.
He said that, like Olaiya, he was also new in his position but was settling down to brass tacks to ensure that everything worked well.
Adewale said that since he assumed duty, the command has apprehended criminals, recovered stolen vehicles, and busted five ‘one-chance’ cab operators along with their firearms.