The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Erale, has vowed to adopt intelligence-led policing and strengthen community partnerships to tackle kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, oil-related offences and other criminal activities across the state.
Eralе, who assumed duty as the 25th Commissioner of Police in Delta State, made the commitment on Tuesday during his inaugural press briefing in Asaba.
The new police commissioner said the protection of lives and property would remain the command’s top priority, assuring residents and visitors that he would operate within the law to make Delta State safer.
He noted that Delta, as a major economic hub in the Niger Delta, required an effective security system capable of supporting economic development, peace and stability.
The commissioner identified five key areas that would guide his administration: discipline, community policing, improved cooperation with other security agencies, crime fighting and rebuilding public confidence.
On discipline, Erale promised strict adherence to police rules, regulations and professional ethics.
He declared zero tolerance for corruption, extortion and other forms of misconduct within the command, while also pledging to recognise and reward officers who demonstrate integrity and exceptional commitment to duty.
On community policing, the CP said the command would strengthen its relationship with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, religious bodies and other stakeholders.
He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspicious activities, stressing that effective policing could not be achieved without public cooperation.
According to him, the police must become more accessible and responsive to the specific security needs of individual communities.
Erale also promised stronger collaboration with other security agencies through joint operations, intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols and rapid responses to emerging threats.
On crime fighting, he said personnel and resources would be deployed based on crime trends and identified hotspots across Delta State.
He said the command would intensify operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, violent crime, oil-related offences and other emerging security threats.
The commissioner also announced plans to review the command’s existing crime-fighting strategies to identify what was working and what required improvement.
He said the police would move from largely reactive policing to a more proactive system driven by intelligence, technology and data analysis.
According to Erale, measurable performance indicators would be introduced for tactical teams, while regular training would be provided to equip officers with the skills required to respond to changing crime patterns.
The new commissioner identified the restoration of public confidence in the police as another major priority.
He promised that residents would receive fair and professional treatment, while complaints would be handled promptly and citizens treated with dignity regardless of their social status.
Erale said the command would increase police visibility and responsiveness while working to ensure that members of the public viewed officers as security partners rather than merely an enforcement institution.
He also urged Deltans to support the police by providing useful information about criminal activities.
“If you see something, say something,” the commissioner told residents.
Erale acknowledged the efforts of his predecessor, CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, and the command’s management team, saying he would build on the achievements recorded under the previous administration.
“We will build forward, not backwards, consolidating gains while confronting emerging threats with renewed energy and clarity,” he said.
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He charged officers and men of the command to align themselves with his administration’s mission, stressing that professionalism and discipline would remain central to his leadership.
The commissioner also appealed to the media to maintain a professional relationship with the command, promising openness and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.
With the new strategy, the Delta State Police Command is expected to place greater emphasis on intelligence gathering, community engagement, technology and inter-agency collaboration in its efforts to tackle crime across the state.