Juliana Francis
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu has reeled out his achievements during his maiden press briefing and also warned criminals to flee away from the state.
A summary of these achievements is in terms of suspects arrested for different offences, some of whom have been arraigned in court and remanded.
At least 92 suspects were arrested in the review, with one of them being a female. He said that the command rescued 12 kidnapped victims, recovered four AK-47 rifles, 66 firearms of different calibre, 333 live ammunition of different calibre, 25 vehicles and other incriminating exhibits recovered.
The CP, who said that the parade was his first since his assumption of office on August 16, 2023, “There is no doubt that the task of effectively policing our society is daily becoming daunting. However, I have since my assumption of duty, ensured that the right policing strategies are devised to tackle existing and emerging security challenges in the State. These strategies are subsumed in my grassroots-driven, proactive, people-oriented and problem-solving policing thrust, which is in line with the policing Vision and Mission of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.”
Uzuegbu explained that he has interacted with critical security stakeholders, including local government chairmen, traditional rulers, heads of other security agencies and many others, on the best ways to collectively tackle security challenges in the State, adding, “These engagements I must tell you have started paying off, as we are making remarkable progress in tackling violent crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery and the criminal activities of subversive criminals.”
He stated that it was a known fact that it was humanly impossible to eliminate crimes in human society, but he assured residents of the state and visitors, that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring maximum security and tranquillity in the State.
He further said: “ I want to state without ambiguity that negative insinuations on the security situations in Enugu State are false and unfounded. It amounts to making a mountain out of a molehill. I, therefore, make bold to say that the State remains peaceful and a safe haven for visitors and investors to come and meaningfully carry out their lawful businesses.
“I, therefore, call on those who may be contemplating to become criminals to do away with such thoughts, while those that have made the commission of crimes their stock in trade are warned to repent of their own volition, as we shall not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with unrepentant criminal elements operating under any guise in the State.
“Consequently, I call on our parents, traditional and religious rulers, and leaders of thoughts in the State to re-orientate and warn their children and subjects to always be of good behaviour. This is because any action and activities inimical to the peace and order in the State by them; shall be met with appropriate policing actions in accordance with extant laws of the land.”
The CP expressed his gratitude to the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba, for the support and encouragement he has been giving to the Police in the state.
“Recall that I recently received and flagged off the Distress Response Squad (DRS), which is one of the Governor’s key operational supports to the Police, to promptly respond to and tackle crimes in the State. This is in addition to several frantic efforts he has been making to ensure that general crime management in the State is seamlessly achieved.
“ I equally wish to especially thank the Inspector-General of Police for his support and guidance, which have made our operational activities and the overall policing of the State less cumbersome. To my colleagues and heads of other security agencies, I want to sincerely thank you all for your continued collaborative support. In the same vein, I sincerely thank security stakeholders and law-abiding citizens of the State for all the support and assistance.
“I, therefore, urge all and sundry to continue to be supportive of us, bearing in mind that security is everybody’s business. Rest assured that we shall never rest on our oars to fight all manner of crimes in the State to a standstill.”
The CP, while thanking the media for its support, urged journalists to be objective and accurate in their reportage, not minding the upsurge in the unbridled citizens’ journalism that seems to be threatening the very core of the mainstream journalism you represent.
He also said: “I equally enjoin you (journalists) to avoid reporting fake and unverified news or go about breaking news that may end up breaking our beloved Enugu State. Always remember that you are one of our major allies and key partners in progress, especially in the area of investigation. I want to thank and appreciate the Officers and Men of the Command for remaining resilient and committed to actualizing the statutory mandates of the Nigeria Police Force in the State. I urge them to remain firm and professional in the discharge of their duties, as I shall not condone acts of unprofessionalism, corruption and unethical behaviour of any kind by them.”
He informed journalists that within the period of a little above one month since he assumed duty, his men had made an amazing breakthrough and this, he said, was also due to the Police’s unwavering commitment to flushing out crimes and criminality in the State.
