The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu has vowed that security forces will reclaim all communities overrun by bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in Kwara State and across Nigeria.

Addressing officers and men of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police Force at the state headquarters in Ilorin, the state capital in North-Central Nigeria, the IGP said criminals cannot drive citizens out of their communities.

"Criminals cannot chase us out of our communities. It is our land and we will not relinquish it to them at any time," the IGP said.

Disu said; "I know Kwara state and I know the problems we are having. I was here for about a month before my appointment as IGP on security duty. I am in the state today for an operation. I am also here to say thank you for all you have been doing. All of you seated there have been wonderful. I have come to say thank you for everything you have been doing to assist us.

"At the same time, I want to beg you for more cooperation. Criminals cannot pursue us out of our towns. We are the owners of the towns. And we will not allow that to happen. We have to take back out homes, we have to take back our communities. That is why I am here to tell you that all of us will take back our communities.

"I have visited Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and thanked him. He has been very wonderful by providing a lot of things to support the police command in the state.

"I am going to visit some places in town. I am visiting my officers who have been there for months. I am going to encourage them to do more".

The IGP, who said there are bad and good people amongst herdsmen, exonerated some of them from banditry and kidnap for ransom.

"I say with all authority that we have a lot of Fulani people assisting us in doing our job. At the same time I beg them to be of greater assistance. They should gather more information and give same to us. The way it is going, it is dangerous, not all Fulanis are bad. We have good Fulanis who have been our neighbours for thousands of years".

He promised to put the welfare of police at the front burner of his administration.

"I want to give you my words that I will look into the welfare of policemen", he said.

The State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo commended the citizens of Ilorin Emirate and the entire people of the state for their steadfastness to the police and solicited for more from other stakeholders and traditional institutions.