Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, 15 December 2020
ONITSHA, Nigeria – Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has expressed dissatisfaction at the dilapidated state of the main auditorium of Prof . Dora Akuyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
The governor represented by his deputy Dr. Nkem Okeke expressed his dissatisfaction over the state of the main auditorium during a ceremony by the Anambra state Police Command to flag off community policing sensitization campaign programme in Awka.
He said that he was not happy with the state of the main auditorium and called on the authority concerned to effect all the necessary repairs immediately. The governor specifically expressed dissatisfaction at the poor lighting in the auditorium, saying that is not good for the state.
” If visitors are invited here and they will stay in the hall without light. It is not good for us and the people in charge should do the needful immediately” he said.
Speaking on the Community Policing, the governor gave directive to all landlords in the state to document full details of their tenants.
According to him, the documentation is another way of keeping eyes on everybody around. He said the community must take charge of their immediate environment as the police and government cannot be at all nooks and crannies of the state at the same time.
The governor said the community policing has been part of Igbo culture, where the youths take charge of the security in the communities thereby protecting lives and property .
“We want our youths to be actively involved in this community policing, the fight against crimes in the state. We want all the traditional rulers in the state to mobilise their people for this community policing because they are closer in the various Communities. The president of various communities should also join hands in this community policing in order to achieve maximum results and secure our communities. Security is the duty of all of us and we must take it serious” he said.
He also said the recent security challenges arising from EndSARS really show the need for community policing in our areas. Obiano called on the church leaders to preach on the need to be security conscious at all time.
“Report any stranger in your community to the Police or the community heads. Do not protect any criminal in your area. Any person you are not sure of his means of livelihood in your community report the person. That is the essence of community policing, everybody is in charge of checkmating crime and criminality” he said..
Speaking at occasion, the Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG in charge of zone 13, Alhaji Danmallam Mohammed called on the various communities to support the community policing, saying that the concept requires the cooperation of members of Communities to make sure crimes and criminalities are reduced.
“The purpose of the community policing is to incorporate the locals into protecting the lives and property of the communities” he said. He called on the residents to give full support to the initiative as the police alone cannot fight crime without the locals .
Also speaking at the occasion, Anambra state Commissioner for police CP John Abang said the campaign was meant to create security consciousness in the various communities, especially during this Christmas period .
According to him, Anambra state has already has community policing outfit under the Anambra state vigilante group. He said the goal of the campaign was to take Security consciousness campaign to all nooks and crannies of the state.
“DPOs are hereby mandated to carry out the campaign in their various area” he said . He also disclosed that over 320 constabulary community police have graduated to go into communities to assist in fighting crimes.
