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By Madu Obi
The Anambra State Police command says it has arrested 200 suspects in the past two months.
The state Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam said at a media briefing that the suspects were arrested for various crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and drug trafficking.
According to him, the arrests were made possible through the efforts of the command's tactical teams, who have been working tirelessly to combat crime and ensure peace and security in the state.
He said that various items, including 20 AK-47 rifles, 50 pump-action guns, and 10 vehicles, were recovered from the suspects within the period.
He also provided updates on the command's law and order activities and achievements in the fight against crime in the state.
He said: "On assumption of office with my strategic officers, we reviewed and evaluated policing capabilities, and threats within the state's critical assets, and embarked upon painstaking intelligence gathering through robust synergy with core sister security agencies, organized vigilante groups, and other stakeholders
Efforts at reducing crime and criminality are yielding positive results and we are changing the narrative.
During the 60 days of my arrival, over 200 suspects have been arrested for various crimes and we have secured five convictions and still ongoing trials.
We have rescued unhurt four kidnapped victims, recovered 33 different brands of arms which includes AK47, pump action guns, locally made pistols, and others.
Over 1,644 ammunition of various types, 27 stolen but recovered vehicles, different brands of motorcycles, and monies were recovered, amongst other exhibits in ongoing investigations.
Another significant innovation in the command is the ongoing training and retraining of officers and men to improve operational proficiency and acquire more skills in crime prevention strategies.
We have conducted a security summit with the informal security sector that had in attendance, vigilante groups, hunters, and other relevant security outfits in the state, to enhance an all-inclusive policing system.
Also, we are consulting and engaging relevant stakeholders, like traditional rulers, market leaders, youth groups, and civil society organizations in the State.
In our drive to fight all forms of criminalities, the window of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Community Policing principles is open for those desirous of taking advantage of such avenues to resolve specific problems and issues.
The command will soon unveil the “Anambra State Police Community Policing Model. As far we are concerned there are no unknown gunmen in Anambra State. People who are terrorizing innocent citizens must be made to account for their crimes."
The CP said he was not unmindful of challenges bordering on professional misconduct on the part of police officers and men, adding, "we have resuscitated the Complaint Response Unit to complement other Police units that act as watchdogs to make that personnel comply with the ethics of the job in the discharge of their duties and investigate complaints against officers."
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