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Intelligence gathering, a major factor in crime control will help in the effort to curb the menace of kidnapping in the country, according to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Governor made the observation this morning, Wednesday, 14/11/2018, when he received in audience the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Alkali Usman who paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Asaba.

Challenging the Police to curb the plague of kidnapping that has become an unfortunate national issue, Okowa said: “There is no doubt that Delta State is relatively peaceful, but, kidnapping has become a national issue and it is very unfortunate,” Governor Okowa said, adding that “most of the kidnappings that take place happen in the highways and that is a cause for worry.”

He continued: “Road users who travel receive a lot of attacks and that has become very worrisome; it is getting scary and soon, we will not be able to travel without seeking some form of help from the security agencies and I know that there is not enough manpower to be able to provide protection for all travellers.

“We heard recently that Reverend Fathers were attacked, I have talked with the Commissioner of Police and a lot is being done but, I believe that there is the need to involve our neighbouring Commands like Edo, Bayelsa and Anambra States for us to be able to find solutions to this particular crime; we need to gather a lot of intelligence as I strongly believe that these criminals are mobile as they move from one location to another”.

Governor Okowa who congratulated Mr Usman for his appointment as the AIG, expressed confidence that AIG’s good knowledge of the terrain would be an asset in making easy, the task of crime control in the zone, noting that as Nigerians prepare for the 2019 general elections, it was important for the Police to be proactive in crime control.

He cautioned that politicians too should play by the rules and avoid overheating the polity.

Earlier, Mr Usman who was in Asaba with top officers of the Zone informed the governor that he was on a familiarization tour of Police formation in the zone and used the occasion to thank Governor Okowa’s administration for contributing to the success stories of the Police in crime control.