Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Adewale
The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, CP Ajao Adewale, has urged tricycle operators across the state to display approved Ministry of Transport identification numbers on their vehicles. He said this would prevent criminals from disguising themselves as genuine riders.
Ajao spoke on Saturday when members of the Bayelsa Indigenous Tricycle Riders Association, led by its chairman, Ebimene Embabo, paid him a courtesy visit at the Police Command Headquarters in Yenagoa.
“Proper identification of tricycle operators is necessary to distinguish genuine riders from criminal elements who may disguise themselves as members of the association to perpetrate crime,” he said.
Ajao also urged the association’s leadership to regularly sensitise its members on speed limits, respect for other road users and responsible conduct, stressing that adherence to traffic regulations was necessary to protect lives and maintain public safety.
“I urge the leadership of the association to continually educate their members on the need to observe speed limits, respect other road users and conduct their businesses responsibly,” he said.
The commissioner assured the association of the command’s readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen crime prevention and sustain peace across the state.
Responding, Embabo thanked the commissioner for receiving the delegation and pledged the association’s continued cooperation with the police to promote peace and security.
“The association is ready to cooperate with the police and support efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and secure Bayelsa State,” he said.
In another development, Ajao has warned police personnel against unprofessional conduct, unlawful detention and arbitrary arrest, insisting that officers must respect the rights of members of the public in the discharge of their duties.
The commissioner gave the warning during an unannounced tour of police divisions in the Ogbia and Nembe Local Government Areas on October 18.
The divisions visited were Otuokpoti, Kolo and Ogbia in Ogbia, as well as Nembe Ogbolomabiri and Nembe Bassambiri in Nembe.
During the tour, Ajao inspected station facilities, detention areas and duty posts to assess personnel alertness, discipline, sanitation and operational readiness.
He charged divisional police officers to ensure proper supervision of their personnel and maintain clean, orderly and functional stations.
The CP warned that officers must comply strictly with the law in carrying out arrests and detentions.
“Every arrest and detention must comply with the law and established police procedures. Officers must respect the rights of members of the public and avoid any conduct that undermines public confidence in the Police,” he said.
He added that discipline and professionalism must be reflected in both the conduct of officers and the condition of police facilities.
Ajao assured residents that the command would strengthen supervision across its formations to ensure responsive and effective policing throughout Bayelsa State.