The Commissioners of Police in Edo and Ondo States, Patrick Daaor and Felix Ohagwu, have commenced joint patrols across border communities to strengthen security and curb criminal activities in the areas.
The exercise, described as a “handshake patrol,” is aimed at deepening cooperation between the two commands and improving the protection of lives and property in communities along the Edo-Ondo border.
The police chiefs also called for greater collaboration among security agencies, including the Edo State Security Vigilante Network, Edo hunters, Edo State Security Corps, and the Nigerian Army, to tackle insecurity in the border communities.
Daaor was accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Peter Gana; Area Commanders for Igarra and Ekiadolor, Odugbeson Olusesan and Umar Garba; as well as the Divisional Police Officers for Ekiadolor and Sobe, Temofe Nwanbueze and Agu Oliver.
The two commissioners and their teams met at Sobe, a border community in Edo State, before proceeding to Ogbese in Ondo State, where they were received by community elders led by Chief Okogun Oshokeluse.
Speaking during the exercise, Daaor said the collaboration was part of efforts to fulfil his mandate of ensuring the safety of residents across Edo State.
“When I resumed as CP Edo, I said my main priority is the safety of Edo people. After reporting, I met with CP Kogi, and today we are here to meet with CP Ondo to strengthen the border security we have started,” he said.
He explained that the initiative would not only strengthen cooperation between police personnel but also bring border communities into the security network.
According to him, residents would be provided with the contact details of Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders in nearby locations to facilitate rapid communication and response to security incidents.
“It is easier for a response to come from these nearby areas than to come from the headquarters, as distance has a major role to play in tackling crime and criminality,” Daaor said.
He assured residents that the collaboration between the two commands would be sustained to create a safer environment where people can conduct their businesses without fear.
On his part, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, said the two commands had commenced a joint security operation codenamed “Flushing Out Criminal Elements from Edo and Ondo State Forests.”
Ohagwu disclosed that three criminal camps had been identified in the forests, adding that police operatives were already conducting operations in the area.
He said the joint patrol was carried out in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, noting that the exercise moved from Sobe to Ogbese, where the Ogbese River separates Edo and Ondo States.
The Ondo CP said the river had allegedly been used by criminals as an escape route after carrying out criminal activities in the border communities.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration between both commands would help block escape routes and prevent criminals from exploiting the boundary between the two states.
As part of the engagement, Daaor also visited the palace of the Odibiado of Sobe Kingdom, His Royal Highness Anthony Ero Aleburu, where he sought the traditional ruler’s support and cooperation in strengthening security across the border communities.
