Ekwueme, Achebe, Obiano, others hail IGP on community policing

Former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, has lauded the initiative of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on community policing.

Ekwueme made the commendation on, Monday, in Awka, Anambra State,  during the inauguration of Eminent Persons’ Forum at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka.

Ekwueme   described the initiative as laudable, stating  that “it’s something that  has been preached for a long time”.

“This time, it’s being configured in such a way that the  work of crime prevention is not being left for the police alone.

With the involvement of community leaders, members of the community and local vigilantes, it will optimize the task of crime prevention”, Ekwueme said .

Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said  that security was important for meaningful investment. describing the project as a wonderful idea, and added that the public should avail the police with credible information to optimize their work.

He said  “The Police are seen not with the best of intention in society, but they cannot be our perpetual enemies.

We should see them as our friends; that is the only way they can work harder to protect our life and property”

In his remarks, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, tasked the police on policing the grassroots.

He said it would amount to  self deceit to believe that criminals were only seen in the urban areas.

The Monarch  who spoke through a member of his cabinet, Chief B.O Adibo, said the urchins today that operate in villages would graduate to big-time kidnappers and armed robbers in the future if not properly handled.

In his address the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Sam Okaula said Eminent Persons Forum was  one of the pillars of IGP Ibrahim Idris in the realization of the need to carry the people along in policing a complex society such as ours.

The CP tasked members of the forum not to hesitate to expose police complicity, compromise, inefficiency, corrupt tendencies or any other act of infraction, saying that  the Acting IGP had put in place mechanisms to checkmate such unprofessional traits