PERSISTING VIOLENT CRIMES IN ANAMBRA STATE AND THE DETACHMENT OF MORE MOBILE POLICEMEN IN THE STATE.

A press statement of the Anambra CLO on the “stage-managed” insecurity and allied matters in the state.



PERSISTING VIOLENT CRIMES IN ANAMBRA STATE AND THE DETACHMENT OF MORE MOBILE POLICEMEN IN THE STATE. ANAMBRA CLO IS EXCITED BUT NOT DELIGHTED.



For sometimes now, Anambra State have witnessed various incidences of violent crimes ranging from Armed robberies, kidnappings, bullion van / bank robberies and shooting sprees of innocent people.



Even though we are not surprised as we earlier foretold that prior to the preparation for the 2010 governorship elections in the state, violent crimes shall be on the increase. We are extremely worried on the frequency; sophistication and effrontery of these dare devils with little resistance from the law enforcement agents.



It is quite disheartening that despite all the logistic supports in monthly subventions, patrol vehicles and communication equipments valued at over N2.4 billion, arguably the highest in the country which the Anambra state government have given to the law enforcement agents in the last three years. The police still pander to the wishes of their godfathers while criminals have a free reign



We received with mixed feelings the news that the Inspector General of Police have approval 10 more additional mobile police units and that over 600 mopols have already arrived Anambra .



We are excited on the move but not delighted, it is not the size of the dog that matters but the size of the fight in the dog.



Presently, in Anambra State, there are more than 220 police check points converted into forced toll collection and extortion points in the state. from Onitsha to Awka alone have 23 and a journey of 30 minutes now takes 1 hour 20 minutes. Between January and August 2009, about N800 million naira have been fleeced by force from Anambra road users by the police and even now, the ungodly practice have not abated.



Watching the newly drafted policemen at the command headquarters Awka the other day, their mindset are already fixed on going out to grab their own share since Anambra have become a gold mine and center for crude oil exploration for the police. The police in the state do many other things other than crime fighting.



To rescue Anambra from the throes of insecurity requires a carefully selected team of officers from the commissioner of police down to the lowest rank and file. We need a refocused team of policemen whose policing method should focus on intelligence report gathering, crime busting, and proactive security instead of reactionary policing and proclivity for personal aggrandizement.



We also condemn the recent recognition and inauguration of a vigilante group codenamed scorpion squad in the state by the commissioner of police Mr. Uzor Amakulor.



The action of the commissioner was an open declaration that the state command is incapable of tackling crime and insecurity in the state.



Also, the coordinator of the squad Osita Okonkwo despite his philanthropic postures in recent times has earlier acquired notoriety for human right violations and arbitrariness.



His days as proprietor of Model Security Agencies Omagba Onitsha was characterized by unlawful detention, brutality and alleged rape of innocent victims. His alleged shooting of a driver attached to Peter ventures ltd Onitsha in Nov. 2007 is still fresh in our memory.



It is a grave danger to allow such people to operate and control security outfit, as cases of extra judicial killings as well as other consequences calamitous to the society shall abound.



We call on the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission by the power vested on them in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and the PSC Act of 2001 to order for the immediate mass transfer and shake up in all the police divisions in the state. Special squads and officers retrained with stipulated code of conducts should be sent to Anambra to complement the efforts of the peter Obi led administration in the state in making Anambra an Eldorado.



Signed for the CLO

Comrade Aloysius Attah

Anambra State Chairman

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