By Kenechukwu Ofomah, Awka
A rights activist based in Anambra State, Comrade Osita Obi says the present leadership of the State Police Command appears incompetent and uncapable of handling the growing insecurity across the state.
He is asking the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to immediately redeploy the State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam from the state, alleging that he has proven to lack ideas to tackle the state’s security challenges.
Obi’s comments come against the background of the spate of killings across parts of the state in recent times.
Last month, over 16 persons were shot and killed at Nibo in Awka South LGA and few days after, about 9 persons were killed in Awka, the state capital city.
On Monday, about 5 persons were shot dead by gunmen enforcing sit-at-home in Ukpo in Dunukofia LGA and Abatete in Idemili North Council Area.
Also, there have been reported cases of kidnappings almost across parts of the state.
According to Comrade Obi, there is no way to distance the police from what is going on, and if they are not capable of handling the issues, then it points to the lack of ideas by the man at the helm.
Saying that the modern day security has gone beyond carrying arms and wearing charms and amulets, Obi noted that it now entails information gathering, intelligence and surveillance.
He disagreed with claims in some quarters that the police failure to perform was because the state Governor, Prof Charles Soludo had not provided the logistics for them, describing such as unfounded.
“Many will argue that the Governor has not provided logistics. But I want to ask, which logistics did retired CP Aderemi Adeoye used and was able to manage security in the state to an appreciable level?
“The truth of the matter is that the Anambra State Police Command under CP Itam can’t handle the situation in Anambra and I am asking the IGP to redeploy him from Anambra State immediately.
“He shouldn’t wait untill all of us die,” he said.
Obi, while acknowledging the need for the state government to provide the needed logistics for the police to function effectively, however, said there is need to interrogate how the logistics provided are utilized.
“I am not saying that the Governor should not provide logistics but we must even begin to interrogate how the logistics provided are utilized.
“Police do not utilize their vehicles very well.
“Look at the incident where many were killed at Nibo, the gunmen passed through many police formations undetected, carrying guns. What then is the police doing?
“You get to a bank and you see policemen carrying gun standing in front of the bank and making themselves available for targeting. Same thing happens at checkpoints where they expose themselves while extorting motorists.
“When the hoodlums come, they get them easily because they are not focused on the job they were asked to do.
“On the Ukpo incident, nobody could say the route that the criminals took or where they came from, because there is no surveillance.
“In all the killings that have been happening, is there any single suspect that has been arrested?
“The police should get involved in information gathering, intelligence and surveillance, and de-emphasize extortion and other old forms of policing,” he advised.
On the increasing number of checkpoints across the state, Obi said the present situation warrants that there should be checkpoints but added they should be conducted in a manner that they would give the operatives protection.
According to him, all members of the police team should not expose themselves on the road collecting money without having some in covert positions for protections.
Obi, who demanded a total overhaul of the entire police command, regretted that some police operatives in Anambra have overstayed their welcome, adding that the state should not be a dumping ground where people will be sent to make money.
“Today, the major work of the police in the state is to settle land disputes. What is the correlation between the job of the police which is security of lives and land disputes,” he queried.
However, in his reaction, a local government official in Nnewi North, Mr Austin Jideofor said there is need for more police personnel in Anambra, saying that the Anambra State police command lacks adequate personnel and logistics to fight crime adequately in the State.
He said the federal government should do the needful, deploy more police personnel to fight crime in Anambra.
He is of the opinion that the local vigilance operatives should be of immense assistance to the police, adding that the police could not do it alone.
