AIG POLICE, ZONE 13 UKPO VISITS ANAMBRA STATE COMMAND, CALLS FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSIVENESS IN POLICING

By Chisom Okpala

The newly deployed Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13 Ukpo, AIG Godwin Iguh Eze paid a working visit to the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters in Awka on June 2.

Speaking during his visit, AIG Eze stated that police cannot work in isolation and still function effectively without the massive involvement of the public, emphasizing that police force rely solely on the community leaders for a more robust and sustainable community policing, thereby calling on traditional rulers, presidents general and relevant stakeholders not to relent in providing security information that will enhance the police work.

Further, AIG Eze commended the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikoiye Orutugu for his resilience in eliminating insecurity and crime to its barest minimum in the state, while also recognizing the efforts and sacrifices of the police officers in Anambra.

According to him, Policemen in Anambra has been paying their price and has contributed massively in ensuring that there is peace and safety in the state.

The AIG also commended the Inspector General of Police for adequately improving the welfare of police officers, saying that there will be sectional restructuring of departments in the state command to enable officers to fit into various recognized skills available in the police force.

On a welcome note, Anambra Commissioner of Police, CP Orutugu said that the AIG’s visit to the command demonstrates the force leadership’s commitment to effective supervision, operational efficiency and improved policing service delivery.

He reaffirmed that security in Anambra has improved as the vision is to ‘Police Anambra without Guns’, a strategy firmly anchored on the principles of community policing.

“This vision recognizes that sustainable security is best achieved through partnership, intelligence-led policing, stakeholders engagement, conflict prevention, public enlightenment and active participation of communities in security management”, the CP noted.

CP further explained that the police engagement with community leaders, religious institutions and civil society organizations as well as other critical stakeholders has significantly enhanced information sharing, trust building, crime prevention and peaceful coexistence across the state.

On a sad note, as the command mourns the passing of two police operatives in the aftermath of the shootout between police operatives and armed hoodlums in the evening of May 31 on Amansea Road, the CP said that police joint operations is currently ongoing aimed at arresting the hoodlums and as well make sure that such will not happen again.

Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers, the council former Secretary General, HRM Igwe Pius Omachonu reassured that traditional rulers, as custodians in various communities are committed toward combating crimes and other threats to public safety.

“In Anambra, Traditional Rulers and the police are partners in progress”, he assured.

Also Presidents General, Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), civil society organizations as well as Religious leaders were all present to welcome the AIG to the police command headquarters.