The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Sam Okaula, has assured community leaders of equity, fairness and transparency in the handling of the ongoing nationwide police recruitment exercise. Okaula gave the assurance during a familiarisation tour of Police Area Command in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area on Wednesday.

The police boss, while reacting to the request for adequate consideration for Omu-Aran indigenes by the town's tradition ruler, Oba Charles Ibitoye, in his palace, said the recruitment was a clear departure from past exercises. Okaula also pleaded with the traditional ruler and his chiefs to give necessary encouragement and support to eligible youths who might be interested in enlisting into the force from the area.

He said: "I want to assure the people of the community that the days are gone when slots belonging to a section of the country are hijacked by the power that be. "Every town and community are expected to fill up their slots with their indigenes as already allocated to them through the online process."

Okaula, who expressed sadness on the indefinite closure of commercial banks in the community after an armed robbery attack three years ago, said the issue was receiving attention from police top hierarchy for solutions. He said: "I felt very bad when I was briefed about the closure of commercial banks in the community as a result of armed robbery attack.

"I had met the Inspector-General of Police and the banks' authority on the way forward and hopefully, there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel." Okaula appreciated the people of the community for their understanding and cooperation, saying the command would continue to reciprocate the gesture by being more dedicated and committed to their assignments.

Earlier, the town's traditional ruler had informed the commissioner of the community's move to assist the police with the construction of three additional police posts. "With more police posts and personnel in place, it is our hope that we can then sleep with our two eyes closed," he said.

The Oba praised the commitment of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the area in their bid to rid the community of criminals. Meanwhile, Ogundele Ayodeji, the Police Area Commander for Omu-Aran, had earlier listed the challenges in the command to include insufficient manpower, lack of functional communication equipment and inadequate funding.