Ado-Ekiti — In compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim, Ekiti State police command yesterday inaugurated a surveillance outfit tagged X-squad with a mandate to ensure compliance with duties across the state.

Speaking at a press conference to flag-off the squad, the Commissioner of Police Mr. Olayinka Balogun also justified the introduction of check-points on the nation's highways, saying it was a pro-active way of checking the rising wave of armed robbery on the roads. The commissioner said the new operation X-Squad , which he said had since commenced operation, would ensure that policemen perform their duties properly.

"Apart from checking the excesses or misbehaviour of the policemen, the squad also serves as eagle eyes to see that the security of the command is water tight. The X-squad will also be responsible for visiting police stations and barracks and monitoring the activities of the entire command," he said, adding that the operation would infuse politeness and civility in dealings with the members of the public as well as straightening all rough edges in the area of police-public relations. The commissioner described check-points as part of crime prevention strategies accepted globally.

Balogun appealed to men of the force not to abuse the system in order to ensure that every Nigerian feels secure while travelling on the highways.

According to the commissioner, the command is re-introducing "operation-check -your -vehicle particulars" with a view to compel road users to get relevant documents for their vehicles.