By Uzo Ugwunze
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP, Nnaghe Obono Itam, weekend commissioned a patrol vehicle donated to 3-3 police division by the 3-3 community, near Onitsha, to assist in curtailing the spate of insecurity in the area.
Speaking shortly after the commissioning, the CP, who was ably represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations Department, ACP James Ihiebe, commended the chairman of Works Committee, All Estates within 3-3 police division, Barr. Jonathan U. Egonu, his executive members and residents for donation of the vehicle assuring that it will yield dividends.
“You have done much, police are not magicians and not rich to provide enough you need. So what ever you do is for you. We will always be at your service. Your donation of the patrol vehicle is an investment that you will reap.
“You have shown a legacy in Anambra and I urge the police to judiciously make use of the vehicle for the community did well by providing the vehicle, it worths emulation,” he stated.
On the alleged assault on residents by police Special Anti Cultism Squad, SPACS, that has been accused of terrorizing the residents by carrying out illegal operations that include, scaling residential perimeter fences, breaking and entry at odd hours without notifying the 3-3 Police division prior to storming the area, the CP frowned at the allegation.
He warned that henceforth any SPACS member caught in such action would be dealt with accordingly stating that there is no way policeman will behave like a criminal by scaling the fence instead of going through the gate into residential buildings.
Also on demand by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Emeka O. Obi, (CSP), and the community for more police personnel to beef up security, the CP reminded them that there in not enough personnel for now disclosing that it is the reason the police synergize with the vigilante operatives.
“So let’s be at an alert, call the vigilante to assist the police if the police is indispose to come to your rescue at the time of need,” he further disclosed.
Earlier in his address, the chairman, Egonu, disclosed that the idea for procurement of the vehicle was initiated by the combined efforts of the estates under the said police Division and attributed it to what unity and a shared vision can achieve.
He paid glowing tribute to the CP, immediate past DPO, CSP Chukwunonso A. Onunkwo for their leadership role and urged the new DPO, CSP Obi, to consolidate all they have done towards moving the community forward.
“The vehicle will undoubtedly enhance the operational capacity of this division, enabling quicker and rapid response times and better service delivery. To my fellow chairmen representing the various estates under this division I say congratulations.
“Though it is not the duty of the community to provide this facility., this achievement is a reflection of your collective resolve and unwavering dedication to community service. You have set a remarkable predecent for other communities to emulate.
“This police Hilux vehicle is more than a donation, it is an investment in safety, peace and progress, we hope it will serve as a vital tool in combating crime, ensuring swift responses to emergencies and strengthening the trust between the police and the people,” the chairman stated.
The Onowu of Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Chief Willie Okafor, had while breaking the cola nut, commended the people for procuring the vehicle adding that it is aimed at curbing the increased crime wave in the area.
He expressed satisfaction with the role played by the police in the state and reiterated the resolve of the people con the area to assist the police in crime reduction.
In his own speech, Chief Okonkwo E. Angus, chairman Federal Housing estate, stated that the vehicle was a product of their sleepless nights to make sure it comes to success.
He frowned at what he termed criminal activities of SPACS adding, “What we want about Anti cult is whoever that is coming for any arrest should identify themselves for us to make sure they are real Anti cult, not kidnapers .
” Like in my Housing Estate, there is no police officers coming there for arrest without notifying me and immediately they call me, I will call DPO of this station. Yesterday I went to Area Command to meet the new commander and discussed with him that any time they are coming for arrest in my Estate they should please let me know in other to call our DPO.
“I am doing that because of lives and properties of the Estate members, I can not allow anybody to take them away without notifying me, especially now that is crime everywhere,” he maintained.
Comrade Ambros Agha, chairman of First Street Estate,, Prime junction, Nsugbe, admitted that the Anti cult comes at odd hours and commits atrocities without respect to other security men on ground.
“They will just forcefully open the gate and enter the estate, ransack the whole buildings, they usually come with L300 buses and pack all the occupants of those Estates. They will leave without giving any notice where they are going to.and the next day when we will come to station to make report they will tell us to come to Enugu ukwu, come to Awka. They don’t even leave any paper behind for the chairman to know where to locate the occupants of those houses.
“Sometimes they break windows or doors of those houses, these are what we are facing in their hands. I am very happy for what Commissioner said against SPACS.
Chinazor Ezeayom, (a.k.a. Ikemba), chairman, Valley View Estate, disclosed that the purpose of the vehicle donation was for security and to assist police in combating crime disclosing that crime wave is in the increase in the area.
He lamented the illegal activities of SPACS adding, “The Anti Cult men are disturbing us just that whoever that knows law doesn’t fail law. The other time, they came to our Estate and destroyed our gate, I have petitioned them, the problem is that you wouldn’t know the particular Anti cult station that came.
“They are behaving like criminals. I am happy with what Commissioner said today though is not that criminals are not in the Estates. Estate chairmen should know who and who are in their Estates and not to keep criminals, we should expose them if any.
“What we are begging CP is that whenever they want to come they should come at normal hour and not coming at the wee hours and destroy our properties,” he pleaded.
Chief Echidime Ihejimba, chairman Upper Hill view Estate, recalled that former vehicle donated was destroyed during EndSARS protest which prompted the procurement of the present vehicle to curtail spate of crime as police will continue to talk of logistic problem.
On SPACS he said, “Yes Anti cult are disturbing us at the wrong hour. It is not that they will not do their work but there is modus operandi for work and I myself as a landlord of many buildings, I advised my fellow landlords, whenever you are renting your house, know the type of person you are renting into your house.
“This is because the kind of people we are renting into our houses in the name that they are paying, later they will be attracting Anti cult into the estate. At times they are the cause of all those problems, mind the type of people you allow into your house because you can never hear that Anti cult arrested someone in my house,” he advised.
The commander, Vigilante group 3-3, Mr. Ikechukwu Odigbo, stressed the need for patrol vehicle adding that he personally procured the one his group is using.
“If there is any problem or emergency, you can’t move fast and even if you trek, there would not be enough men. I will keep on begging for vehicle and I know buying vehicle will solve the problem. Since I bought one vehicle, we have achieved a lot.
“This Christmas festive period we are assuring the residents that we are ready to protect lives and property with their support. Information is very vital in this time of the year,”, he added.
Pic shows the CP representative, ACP Ihiebe, cutting the tape to commission the vehicle.
