BY RITA OYIBOKA
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has urged residents of the state to stop relying on personal contacts within the police force during emergencies and instead use official police communication lines to ensure a swift and effective response.
CP Abaniwonda gave this charge during an exclusive interview with The Pointer at his office in Asaba.
Emphasising the importance of following due process in emergencies, the police boss said, “I have consistently said that my police control room line does not go off.
‘’Every time you call our dedicated lines, one of our tactical commanders will respond without demanding anything. That’s why we recommend you call officers who are in authority.”
He warned that contacting friends or junior officers during distress situations is not only ineffective but also places an unfair burden on the police command when those officers are not in a position to respond.
“If you call a friend who’s not dedicated or assigned to that jurisdiction, and you expect us to take the blame for his inaction, that’s unfair. I would prefer, no matter how close your relationship with an officer is, that you call the official police numbers, so we can serve you better,” he added.
CP Abaniwonda also reflected on his time in Oyo State, where the strategic placement of contact numbers, including those of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders, and Tactical Commanders, helped improve response times and coordination.
“No tactical commander will ignore a distress call because we have assets deployed in strategic locations. We have assets in Ogwashi-Uku, and if not there, then in Ibusa, which is a stone’s throw away. But if you’re calling a junior officer who doesn’t even know where these assets are, how can he help?” he asked.
Reiterating the point, he advised residents, “Call your friends if you wish, but we prefer that you call our official channels.
That’s the only way we can serve you promptly and efficiently.”
The Delta State Police Command continues to encourage citizens to familiarise themselves with and use official distress numbers to ensure prompt, effective, and accountable law enforcement.
