The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 4 (AIG), Dankombo F. Morris, has ordered a coordinated, strategic crackdown on banditry and other violent crimes across Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau States, placing the Commissioners of Police in the affected States on red alert.
TNT understands that the order aligns with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu’s operational mission, which focuses on proactively tackling security threats, particularly banditry and other violent criminal activities.
ASP Ayo Oluwaseun Martins, Zonal Police Public Relations Officer Zone 4, Makurdi, in a statement on behalf of AIG Dankombo, says the command has, through a refined operational methodology driven by intelligence-led policing and comprehensive situational awareness, meticulously identified and mapped criminal enclaves, transit corridors, and logistical supply networks utilised by suspected criminals.
“In view of this, the AIG has directed the Commissioners of police of the respective states within the Zone to deploy specialised tactical units to establish dominance in these areas, dismantle criminal organisations, and maintain a visible and sustained policing presence across identified high-risk locations within the three states.
“The AIG has further emphasised the necessity of intelligence-driven policing to improve information gathering and analysis, thereby enabling real-time support for targeted interventions,” part of the statement reads.
He also ordered intensification of both overt and covert surveillance operations in vulnerable areas, supplemented by stop-and-search operations based on credible intelligence.
“All tactical formations, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Special Intervention Squad (SIS), have been placed on red alert and directed to maintain continuous patrols across forested regions, rural communities, major highways, places of worship, and other public venues.
“Supervisory officers have been explicitly directed to ensure discipline, operational efficacy, and accountability among personnel,” the statement adds.
