Delta Police Partners NURTW, RTEAN, COMTOA, Others to Enhance Transport Sector Security

The Delta State Police Command has strengthen security collaboration with transport sector stakeholders across the state with the view to and enhance crime prevention within the sector.

Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, on Monday held a strategic collaboration meeting with representatives of the sector in Asaba, the state capital.

The development came on the backdrop of the recent incident of now-dismissed officer ASP Nuhu Usman shooting of one Oghenemine Ogidi at Effurun motor park after he had gone to collect a parcel which turned out to be a pistol.

In a statement, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Bright Edafe, said the meeting, which was held in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, focused on engaging critical stakeholders whose activities directly impact public safety and security.

In attendance were representatives of Local Government Chairmen, officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (COMTOA), Tipper Union, transport company operators, and other stakeholders in the transport sector.

Speaking during the engagement, the Commissioer of Police CP Yemi oyeniyi, appreciated the support and partnership of the transport unions, noting that the Command has continued to record operational successes through intelligence gathering and stop-and-search operations across the state. He added that Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers have also been directed to sustain similar engagements within their respective areas.

The CP stated that the meeting was convened to educate transport operators on emerging criminal tactics and to strengthen collaboration between the Police and transport stakeholders.

According to him, criminal elements often exploit transport systems to move arms, illicit drugs, and ransom payments linked to kidnapping activities.

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He therefore urged transport operators and park managers to remain vigilant and avoid being used as tools by criminals. The CP stressed that properly organised parks and effective passenger documentation, including accurate manifests containing passengers’ phone numbers and addresses, would greatly assist security operations and crime prevention efforts.

The Police boss also warned against the activities of touts and persons with criminal backgrounds within motor parks, while discouraging the practice of picking passengers along roadsides instead of designated parks, noting that such acts expose commuters to criminal attacks and hinder effective monitoring.

He further appealed to stakeholders to provide credible information to the Police and ensure that illicit drugs and other criminal activities are not tolerated within parks and loading points.

Speaking during the meeting, the State Chairman of the NURTW, Chief Francis Arhiyor, highlighted challenges associated with passengers refusing the search of parcels and reluctance to provide proper details in manifest logs. He called for increased public sensitisation through radio, television, and social media platforms on the importance of passenger identification and parcel checks.

Also speaking, Comrade Nnamdi Odiwe representing Oshimili South LGA chairman, warned against the dangers posed by unauthorised roadside parks and called for stronger collaboration between government authorities and the Police to monitor illegal parks and improve security oversight.

The CP in a concluding remark stated that the engagement would be continuous, noting that sustained community collaboration would help in implementing policies aimed at reducing crime across the state. He assured stakeholders that the presence of the Police would continue to be felt across Delta State through increased visibility policing on both land and waterways.

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CP Oyeniyi expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their contributions and commitment to the security of the state, adding that the engagement was fruitful and beneficial to the command’s ongoing efforts at combating crime.