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Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Tuesday, said the security of lives and property remained a top priority of his administration.

He said this was because safety and security are essential for enduring economic growth, social stability and wholesome development.

Governor Oborevwori stated this in his remarks during the unveiling and handover of Criminal data base and equipment to the Delta State Police Command to aid the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.

The Governor, at the ceremony, stated that a functional justice and police system required dedicated personnel and the right tools and infrastructure to support effective policing.

Represented by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, the Governor said the Data centre and investigation room would provide the Police a properly equipped space to record statements, conduct interrogations and ensure that investigations were carried out professionally, transparently and in line with the Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

“This project is a testament to our administration’s commitment to security, justice and good governance under the M.O.R.E agenda.

“A functional justice and police system requires dedicated personnel, the right tools and infrastructure to support effective policing.

“With this facility, we are strengthening the ability of our Police officers to carry out their duties while promoting fairness, accountability and respect for human rights.

“Security remains a top priority for this administration because a safe and secure Delta is essentially for economic growth, social stability and development.

“Our administration remains committed to supporting security agencies with resources, technology within the state’s limit.

“This data centre and investigation room is just one of initiatives under the M.O.R.E agenda to improve policing, security and justice system in Delta State.

“You may recall that in November last year, the Inspector- General of Police, Dr Sunday Egbetokun, was here to inaugurate 31 brand new operational vehicles which the state donated to the security agencies.”

According to him, “The Delta State Security Trust Fund played a critical role in delivering this project and I sincerely commend their dedication and commitment in implementing this administration’s M.O.R.E agenda.

“I want to thank the Commissioner of Police for his great work in our state and fostering good working relationships between the security agencies and the state government.

“To our gallant police officers, I urge you to put to good use this facility and ensure that it serves its dual purpose of ensuring good investigation and upholding the rule of law.”

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the Attorney-General for championing the provision of the database.

According to him, ” the society is evolving and those of us in crime management must also evolve or we continue to lose cases.

“What we are commissioning today is a state-of-the-art data centre, where suspects can be processed and records kept for posterity.

“Every person has a name, every person has a BVN, If we keep this record, we will be able to track, in real time, our suspects, because we cannot call them criminals until they have been convicted.

He added, “We will continue to ask for more support, so that, like our neighboring states are chasing them, we can chase these criminals out of our state.

“My people say if you hear them saying, carry, carry, if we do not join them, they will come and dump it at your backyard. As our neighbouring states are chasing these people, we also need to up our game, up our tempo, so that they do not use our state as a base.

“I will look forward to working together to ensure that Delta remains the safe haven that it is.”

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the Delta State Security Trust Fund, Chief Sam Osasa, said it was Commonwealth knowledge that most suspects deny confessional statements made under interrogation when taken to court.

He said the trend had been a major challenge to the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022.

The Executive Secretary added that the provision of the necessary equipment and services would go a long way in nipping the problem in bud and facilitate prosecution of offenders by the Delta State Criminal Investigation Department in collaboration with the State Ministry of Justice.

Osasa said the equipment would empower officers with real-time access to intelligence gathering, improve crime detection and prevention as well as efficient record management.