Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, the new Kwara commissioner of police (CP), has warned officers in the command to desist from illegal and indiscriminate checking of citizens' mobile phones.

Adelesi spoke on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state's capital, during the command's maiden news conference.

The CP also asked the citizens to decline police officers' requests to check their mobile phones whenever such an encounter arises.

She assured that police will be civil in discharging their statutory duties without fear or favour.

“This is borne out of our conviction that the emotional, social, economic and practical costs of victimisation are unquantifiable and extremely burdensome,” NAN quoted Adelesi as saying.

“Our resolve to have crime prevention as the major policy thrust is further enhanced by the notion that crime can directly undermine the legitimacy of a state by destroying the trust relationship between the people and the state.”

Adelesi added that the police command in the state will carry out its duties with a high level of professionalism, noting attention will be paid to the protection and promotion of the rights of all.

The police chief said she would tackle the activities of cultists in the state by investigating and prosecuting masterminds according to the law.

She added that existing efforts to cooperate and collaborate with the communities in the state would be enhanced.

On the borders with neighbouring states — Oyo, Osun, Kogi and Niger, Adelesi said arrangements are ongoing to strengthen the existing collaboration between the states to prevent cross-border crimes.