Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, has commissioned an ultra-modern divisional police station in Anambra State.
The new police station is attached with a police barracks for senior police officers of the division. It is situated in Amawbia, near Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the event, the IGP said police in Anambra will not spare common criminals who are hiding under agitation to attack the people.
According to him, agitating for a separate state by perpetrating criminal acts in Anambra State and also attacking police operatives and other facilities is a smokescreen for criminality.
He said police will no longer allow such criminals to keep operating in any state in the South-East, adding that there are better ways to agitate, than involving in criminality.
“Secessionist idea will not continue like this. There are better ways to agitate, and government will not be intimidated by these people. This is criminality, and the agitation for Biafra is just a smokescreen for criminality.
“Vigilante operatives are key in our crime fighting. The vigilante operatives have done well, without them we will not succeed. We urge communities to support their vigilante. Security is everybody’s business, security is not keeping quiet when you see what is going wrong, or what you should do.
“We are behind you (commissioner of Police in Anambra State) to ensure that there is law and order in Anambra. The Governor is security friendly, and has always assisted us.
“With the challenges of 2023, we shall provide level playing ground and the environment shall be created for all politicians to exercise their franchise.”
Speaking on the new divisional police station, Baba said it is an initiative to give operatives of the police a conducive working environment, to enable them give their very best.
“This is one of the projects we have put in place for our officers to have a great place to work and retire into. We need more edifices like this to be able to provide our men with the good environment to work.
“It will provide service for people around here and we will replicate this in other places to ensure that we give our officers the best and in the spirit of federal character, we will continue to do this in places that we can. We have one in Enugu too, which we will commission today.
Addressing the IGP earlier at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Chukwuma Soludo called for an increased support for the Nigerian police to confront its dearth of resource challenge.
Soludo particularly appreciated the Nigerian Police for their roles in spite of all the challenges faced in the state. He said that the Police have been top notch in terms of their responsibilities, together with the other security agencies in the State.
The State police commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, described the new division as a milestone in the repositioning of the police force for better delivery.
