The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi, has revealed that recent security strategies centered on grassroots intelligence gathering and stakeholder engagement have significantly contributed to reducing crime and insecurity across the state’s 18 local government areas.
According to Afolabi, the Community Safety Partnership Initiative has played a pivotal role in aligning with the people-centered policing vision of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. This initiative focuses on community involvement and proactive intelligence as means to enhance public safety and trust.
The Commissioner disclosed that his statewide engagement with key community stakeholders—including traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local residents—has fostered a stronger relationship between the police and the people. This direct engagement approach has led to mutual trust, improved citizen cooperation, and collective participation in crime prevention and conflict resolution.
As part of the initiative, Commissioner Afolabi toured multiple communities including Ifon, Idogun, Epe, Okitipupa, Ore, Kiribo, and Agadagba Obon, spanning the three senatorial districts of Ondo State. These visits allowed for honest feedback, shared intelligence, and collaborative problem-solving, which he said have already started yielding tangible results.
Afolabi proudly noted that Ondo State has experienced a notable period of peace in the past month, with no recorded incidents of kidnapping, community attacks, or killings—an outcome he attributed to the effectiveness of the Community Safety Partnership model.
On the subject of intelligence gathering, Afolabi lamented the initial shortfall in manpower, revealing that out of only 40 intelligence officers in the state, 15 were posted to political institutions (10 to the Government House and 5 to the House of Assembly), leaving just 25 officers to manage intelligence efforts across the state’s 54 divisional police headquarters.
To address this gap, the Commissioner spearheaded intensive training and retraining programs for over 100 police personnel, selecting two officers from each division for capacity-building in areas such as Crime Mapping, Nipping and Timing Techniques, Arrest and Investigation Procedures, and Basic Intelligence Courses. These trainings were tailored to improve proactive policing, enhance investigative capabilities, and ensure efficient prosecution processes.
In a bid to boost operational logistics, Afolabi also reached out to personal contacts to repair non-functional patrol vehicles. Through funds raised from associates, 15 grounded vehicles were restored and are now actively deployed to patrol high-risk areas across the state. This was further reinforced by the Ondo State Government’s donation of 10 new patrol vans, which have improved police visibility, accessibility, and emergency response times.
Additionally, recognizing the limitations posed by difficult terrains, the command has adopted motorcycle patrols in remote communities that are inaccessible to vehicles.
Newly recruited Constables, following basic intelligence training and positive performance assessments, were assigned roles as Intelligence Operatives. These officers now contribute significantly to the intelligence framework of the command by engaging in daily surveillance, analysis, and the dissemination of Intelligence Reports (INTREPs) to appropriate units for timely intervention.
Commissioner Afolabi’s comprehensive approach reflects his commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening intelligence-led policing, and promoting community-centered law enforcement across Ondo State.
