By Godfrey C. Osakwe, fnipr
I wish to commend the present leadership of the Delta State Police Command for their commitment to upholding their statutory responsibilities. Their recent successes in crime-busting deserve recognition. However, the truth remains: the police can not win this fight alone. We must support them with the resources, infrastructure, and policies needed to ensure a truly safe Delta State.
My personal experience in 2016 remains a sobering reminder of the work that still lies ahead. That year, my Toyota Camry containing my laptop loaded with sensitive business proposals and other valuables was stolen in front of Elomaz Hotel, Asaba, on DBS Road. The theft occurred under the watch of hotel security personnel and mobile police officers, who were on duty for the launch of Voicepay, a biometric tax payment platform for Nigeria’s creative industry.
The event, organised in partnership with Domino Information Company Limited (DICL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR), with support from Remita, aimed to encourage civic responsibility in tax compliance. As the media consultant for the event, I was directed by hotel security to park directly in front of the gate because every available space was occupied by dignitaries and government officials. Despite police intervention afterwards, my vehicle has never been recovered.
If we are truly committed to securing Delta State, we must move beyond occasional flashes of success and invest in sustained, technology-driven policing. I propose the following urgent measures:
1. Rejig our security architecture — Install solar-powered streetlights with CCTV cameras across strategic locations, connected to central monitoring centres manned 24/7 by trained officers for real-time alerts to rapid response teams.
2. Expand police capabilities — Create Air and Sea Units within the Delta State Police Command to complement land operations, with surveillance helicopters, drones, gunboats, and well-equipped patrol vehicles.
3. Strengthen public-private partnerships — Where government budgets fall short, partner with the private sector to provide and maintain critical security infrastructure.
4. Enforce anti-open grazing laws — Stop the roaming of cattle on streets and highways by herders, which often serves as a cover for criminal activity.
5. Deter harbouring of criminals — Introduce strict laws with heavy penalties, including possible property forfeiture, for landlords or homeowners found to be accommodating criminals.
These steps are not just about fighting crime they are about protecting lives, preserving livelihoods, attracting investment, and rebuilding public trust.
A secured Delta is a prosperous Delta. But for this to happen, the government, law enforcement, private sector, and citizens must work together with urgency and resolve.
In today’s Nigeria, playing catch-up with criminals is no longer an option. We must be proactive, innovative, and uncompromising in our fight against insecurity. The time to act is now.