The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye, on Wednesday urged the police to increase patrols in the area to enable commercial banks, which were shut due to robbery attacks, reopen their branches.

Ibitoye made the plea when the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 8, Lokoja, Mr Lawal Tanko, paid him a courtesy visit. The traditional ruler noted that some banks had been closed in the area in the last two years following incessant robbery attacks.

He pledged the support of the community to assist the force in the discharge of its civic responsibilities. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AIG, who was in Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, also addressed officers and men during his familiarisation visit to the state.

Tanko charged the policemen to exhibit high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties and to always respect the fundamental human rights of citizens. He said that there was need for officers and men of the force to continue to maintain cordial relationship with their host communities in all areas of human endeavours.

According to him, this will enable the police and the civil populace to synergise to effectively combat crime. He said it was an integral part of the security policy thrust of the present administration to improve on notable grey areas of the community policing initiative to reduce crime rate.

Tanko said that the police authority had already earmarked about N9.5 billion for the police mortgage bank to construct affordable housing estates and also assist officers and men with loan facility to own houses.

The AIG also said that the Kwara Government recently provided the force with some portions of land to construct about 500 units of affordable houses for the benefit of the officers and men.

"You should do away with corruption, illegal detention and investigation that could infringe on citizens' right or put you on collision course with members of the public.

"You should always be mindful of your intervention in civil matters and learn to apply alternative dispute resolution tactics to achieve amicable settlement of disputes," he said.

Mr Esosa Amadasun, the Kwara State Police Commissioner, in his remarks, said the new IG had zero tolerance for corruption and other vices and warned that any officer caught engaging in misconduct would face the full wrath of the law.

The Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Omu-Aran Police Command, Mr Olatunji Ayodele and Mr Adamu Zawah, respectively, in their remarks requested for more personnel to be deployed to the area to fight crime.