Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to be on the offensive, and take the fight against crime to the doorsteps of suspected criminals.

Baba was said to have given the directive while reviewing the general security situation of the nation via reports from police commands and formations across the country.

He was said to have ordered commissioners of police to ensure regular patrols, stop and search, raids and show of force by tactical commanders, to mitigate criminal activities being recorded in some parts of the country.

He also directed all commissioners of police to deploy water-tight security arrangements to protect schools, hospitals, health workers, and other critical national infrastructures in their domain.

Public Relations Officer, NPF, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen, on Sunday.The statement read, “The IGP has tasked strategic police managers at various levels to prioritise the use of intelligence gathering networks, particularly traditional/local intelligence to locate criminal hideouts and flush them out before they strike.

“He has equally charged all officers and men to be on the offensive, and take the fight against crime to the doorposts of suspected criminal elements, including bushes and uncompleted buildings, profile them, and charge those found wanting to courts accordingly.

“Against the backdrop of this development, Nigerians are hereby urged to cooperate with the police as many police operatives will be seen at strategic areas, routes and communities, in order to suppress the antics and criminal activities of men of the underworld.”

The IGP has however warned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to be civil, professional and humane in the course of discharging their duties.

“He has similarly charged police officers to protect with courage and serve with compassion in line with his administration’s policing theme.”