By Reen Chidi
ASABA, Sept. 1, 2026 — The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, has assumed office as the 25th Commissioner of Police in the state, pledging to prioritise the protection of lives and property and adopt intelligence-driven strategies to tackle crime.
Erale, who made this known on Tuesday September 1, 2026 at the police headquarter Asaba,
during his inaugural press briefing in Asaba, said his administration would focus on strengthening community policing, improving collaboration with sister security agencies and restoring public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
The commissioner said the Command would deploy proactive and technology-enabled policing to confront kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, violent crime, oil-related crimes and other emerging security threats across the state.
He said Delta, as one of Nigeria’s economic hubs and a strategically important state in the Niger Delta, required a strong and effective security architecture capable of supporting economic development, peace and stability.
“I am fully aware of the responsibility that comes with this office; hence, the safety of lives and property in Delta State is our priority,” Erale said.
He assured residents and visitors that the Command would work within the law to ensure that people feel safe in their homes, workplaces, communities and places of interest.
Six-point operational agenda
Erale unveiled a broad operational agenda anchored on discipline, community policing, inter-agency cooperation, crime fighting, public confidence and a review of the Command’s existing crime-fighting methodology.
On discipline, he pledged strict adherence to Police Rules and Regulations, ethics and Public Service Rules, while promoting professionalism and respect for human rights.
He also declared zero tolerance for corruption, extortion and other forms of ethical misconduct, promising that officers who demonstrate integrity and exceptional service would be recognised and rewarded.
On community policing, the commissioner said the Command would deepen engagement with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, religious bodies and other stakeholders.
He urged residents to support security efforts by providing timely and credible information on suspicious activities, stressing that community-based intelligence would be central to the Command’s crime prevention strategy.
Stronger security collaboration
Erale also promised stronger operational synergy with sister security agencies through joint operations, intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols and rapid response to emerging threats.
According to him, the approach is aimed at ensuring that security agencies work together more effectively in addressing the state’s security challenges.
He further said the Command would intensify ongoing operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, cybercrime, violent crime and oil-related offences.
Personnel and operational resources, he added, would be deployed based on crime trends and identified hotspots across the state.
Shift from reactive to proactive policing
The new commissioner said his administration would “reboot” the Command’s crime-fighting methodology by reviewing existing operational strategies to determine what was working, what was not and what needed to change.
He said the Command would move further away from reactive policing towards proactive, intelligence-led and technology-enabled crime prevention.
Erale disclosed that measurable performance indicators would be established for the Command’s tactical teams, with their activities and operations restructured where necessary.
He added that crime-fighting strategies would be continuously adapted to emerging threats through data analysis, intelligence assessment, technology and regular training.
Commitment to public trust
The commissioner also placed public confidence at the centre of his policing agenda, promising fair treatment, timely response to complaints and respect for the dignity of all citizens irrespective of status.
He said the Command would strengthen police visibility and responsiveness while promoting a culture in which residents see the police as partners in maintaining security rather than merely an enforcement institution.
Erale acknowledged the efforts of his predecessor, CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, and the Command’s management team, saying their contributions had helped strengthen the Delta State Police Command.
“We will build forward, not backwards, consolidating gains while confronting emerging threats with renewed energy and clarity,” he said.
The commissioner appealed to residents to cooperate with the police by providing useful and credible information, stressing that effective security depended on partnership between the police and the public.
He also solicited the cooperation of the media, describing journalists as important partners in informing the public, and pledged to maintain a professional and frank working relationship with them.
Addressing officers and men of the Command, Erale said expectations under his leadership were clear, urging them to align their activities with the mission and agenda of the new administration.
