Ekwueme, Obiano, Others Laud IGP On Community Policing

Former Vice President, Dr
Alex Ekwueme, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe have commended the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris on his new community policing initiative aimed at reducing the crime rate in the country.
In their separate speeches at the inauguration of the Eminent Persons’ Forum in Awka, they described the initiative as a step in the right direction, noting that it was long overdue.
Recalling that it was something that had been preached over the years, Ekwueme observed that crime prevention should not be left for the police alone.
“With the involvement of community leaders, members of the community and local vigilantes, it will optimize the task of crime prevention.”
In his speech, Governor Obiano, who spoke through his deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, said security was very important towards achieving meaningful investment.
The governor, who described the project as a wonderful idea, urged the public to avail the police with credible information to optimize their work.
According to him, some people often saw the Police as enemies, even though they had the best of intention for society.
“We should see them as our friends because that is the only way they can work harder to protect our lives and property,” the governor stated.
While commending the IGP’s initiative, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe emphasized on grassroots policing, adding that it amounted to self-deceit to believe that criminals operated only in the urban areas.
Achebe, who spoke through a member of his cabinet, Chief B.O Adibo, said the urchins that operated in villages would graduate to big-time kidnappers and armed robbers in the future, if not properly handled.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula said the Eminent Persons’ Forum was one of the pillars of operation of IGP Ibrahim Idris on the need to carry the people along in policing a complex society like Nigeria.
The CP tasked members of the forum not to hesitate to expose police complicity, compromise, inefficiency, corrupt tendencies or any other act of infraction, assuring that the IGP had put in place mechanisms to checkmate such unprofessional traits.