By Jude Michael
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has said that community policing is very important in the restoration of security in the state.
The police chief was quoted as saying this during an advocacy and assessment visit to Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In a press statement signed and made available to journalists by the spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, he said that Itam, during the visit, addressed HRH, Obi Sir Patrick Mabamalu Okeke, JP, the traditional ruler of Abagana; the Local Government Chairman; Presidents General of Communities; vigilante operatives, and other indigenes of the area.
He said: ‘In a continuous commitment to strengthen the security in the state, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has sustained the advocacy and security assessment in the 21 local government areas to enhance collaboration with community leaders, indigenes, and residents to improve safety.
‘During the interaction with the stakeholders the CP emphasized the importance of community policing and called for an honest and patriotic involvement in identifying and prioritizing our differences to develop deliberate plans for addressing the problems.
‘The CP also reiterated that we have a common enemy that has restricted our movement on Mondays, crippled businesses of Ndi Anambra, and committed havoc in the state.
‘He urged the people to join the police and other security agencies to take back our space and deny these criminal elements the space they use to cause tension in the state.’
The release also quoted the Chairman of the local government, Hon Bar. Chinedu Ononiba, who spoke on behalf of his people, as pledging to sustain the security advocacy for the indigenes/residents of the local government.