From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Anambra State Commissioner of Police Nnanna Oji Ama(CP) on Wednesday held a security interactive session with stakeholders from Anambra South senatorial zone.
The interactive session held at Anaedo Hall, Nnewi in Nnewi North LGA of the State.
The interactive sessions brought together Traditional Rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Presidents-General, Youth Leaders, Women Leaders, religious leaders, market leaders, and other critical stakeholders.
Some of the issues deliberated on are the prevailing security concerns, how to promote intelligence-led policing, and how to strengthen community participation in crime prevention and public safety.
Speaking during the Nnewi stakeholders meeting, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnanna said he was in Nnewi to interact with stakeholders
The new Anambra Police Sheriff who was the former Nnewi Police Area Commander pointed out that he was visiting the Stakeholders without assumption that police is all knowing.
CP Ama said as a matter of fact that since the stakeholders live in the communities, do their business there and raise their children in their respective communities in Anambra South senatorial zone, he actually wants to learn from them.
He said that he cannot underplay the importance of all the persons who attended the meeting as important security partners.
CP Ama said that he actually wanted to learn from the stakeholders how best to make Anambra safer.
The new Commissioner of Police in an uncharacteristic manner distributed questioners to the attendees to extract information that would help him do his job better.
He also made a special phone number available to the critical stakeholders which he according to the Commissioner should be used to send any security concern they may have to him.
“My approach would be based on partnership, intelligence led, community engagement, with respect to Rights of citizens and residents. Vigilate and community security have important roles to play in security but must operate within the ambit of law.” CP Ama asserted.
In his own speech, the Nnewi North LGA Chairman, Hon Eche Anazodo said that he has been working closely with security agencies in so many ways to ensure that Nnewi is safer.
He commended CP Nnanna for the interactive forum which he noted would enhance security of the people in the area.
Similarly, the Orumba North LGA Chairman, Barr. Casmir Nwafor (Capt Rtd) encouraged the stakeholders to encourage their children to join the Nigerian Police Force(NPF) and other security agencies because of what he called inherent advantages.
The Traditional Ruler of Azigbo, HRH, Hon Justice Samuel N.Okoye (Rtd), said that the government should ensure that each operative of Anambra State Security Outfit, popularly Agunechemba is given a motorcycle to enhance the effectiveness of the operatives.
He also advocates cordial relationship between police officers and Agunechemba operatives even as he appealed to Gov Charles Soludo to help equip the police.
The CP’s engagement with the stakeholders continued at Umueri Civic Center on Thursday for Anambra North senatorial zone while the people of Anambra Central will have their date with CP Ama at Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka.