The new Commissioner of Police posted to Oyo State police command, Muhammad Musa Katsina, has formally resumed duty as the officer in charge of the command, just as he warned potential troublemakers to toe the path of decency or face prosecution.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the state command Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, Katsina replaced former Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, who had been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to be in charge of Special Fraud Unit (SFU).

This came as Governor Abiola Ajimobi commended Nigeria’s uniformed agencies, saying that they have been in the vanguard of ensuring the entrenchment of peace and security in the state.

 The governor gave the remarks while welcoming the newly posted Commissioner of Police at the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan,

 Governor Ajimobi, who expressed optimism in the police force to ensure security in the state, said, “On behalf of the government and good people of Oyo State, I welcome our new Commissioner of Police, who incidentally is coming at a time when all hands are expected to be on deck as the elections are here.

“Oyo State is unique in every sense of the word. It is regarded as the pacesetter state and one of the largest and most populous states in the federation. It is the political capital of the whole South Western part of the country. It is also the intellectual hub of the nation given the fact that the nation’s university is located here. It is also a very complex state.”

The governor went back memory lane when he added that “Before my advent as the governor of this state, Oyo was known for turmoil and brigandage but we have restored peace and security. We have enjoyed the support of the police and other security agencies. We set up a taskforce which included the police, army and the State Security Service (SSS). It has been very effective. Oyo State has become one of the safest states in Nigeria. As the elections are here, we hope that the police will play a god-fearing role in the state.”

In his remarks, the new CP called for caution in the forthcoming election, just as he insisted that the police would play its traditional role of ensuring peace.

“It is pertinent that I paid a courtesy call to inform the governor of my presence. I want to assure the people of Oyo State that security is guaranteed. We are aware of our traditional mandate. The elections are here. I want all political parties to play by the rules. We won’t allow miscreants to take over the peace of this state. Stakeholders and parents should not allow their wards to be used as canon fodders. Nobody will be allowed to create an atmosphere of fear in Oyo State.

Present at the event, among others, were the deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Ali.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in his office on Monday, the police commissioner said within 48 hours spent in the command, he was able to tour some of the important areas in the Oyo State Police Command and was able to get a hint of some of the happenings in the 56 police divisions.

Katsina assured members of the public of protection of lives and property, hinting that he was a known crime fighter and would not spare criminals, no matter their positions in the society.

“I am a crime fighter and this has been my pedigree. I want to assure members of the public, especially the law abiding ones in Oyo State, that our duty, our major operation in Oyo State, is to ensure that we carry the war against crime and criminality to the doorsteps of anybody, no matter how highly placed,” he stated.

He added that “in my own definition of crime, we don’t have anything like highly placed criminal. A miscreant is a miscreant. I will also warn any potential troublemakers to toe the path of decency.”

Katsina also spoke on the forthcoming elections, saying that the police command had enough structure on ground to ward off troublemakers and those that might want to perpetrate one crime or the other.