Anambra Govt, Police Deepen Security Partnership, Target Grassroots Crime
By Ngozi Obileri|Ichie Times
The Anambra State Government and the State Police Command have moved to strengthen collaboration in the fight against crime, with emphasis on grassroots policing, intelligence gathering and stronger community participation in security.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Nnanna Oji Ama, at the State Police Headquarters in Amawbia.
Mefor, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Chief Udorji Amaedu, welcomed the new Police Commissioner to Anambra and assured him of the state government’s full support in the discharge of his duties.
He said the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration had made significant progress in tackling insecurity, including reclaiming eight local government areas previously affected by criminal activities and restoring peace across the state.
The Information Commissioner, however, stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the police, government and communities to prevent a resurgence of criminal activities.
He advocated stronger community policing through regular communication between police personnel and residents, saying improved grassroots engagement would encourage residents to provide useful intelligence to security agencies.
Mefor also proposed incentives for credible informants and stronger measures to protect their identities, describing intelligence gathering and whistleblowing as critical tools in building a secure environment.
He assured the Police Commissioner of the state government’s 24 hour support for activities aimed at improving security and enabling the command to perform effectively.
Responding, CP Nnanna Oji Ama said his primary objective was to ensure peace and security in Anambra, stressing that his background as an indigene of the South East had further strengthened his commitment to the assignment.
The Police Commissioner said he had commenced engagements with stakeholders across the state, including grassroots communities, as part of efforts to understand their concerns and build the trust required for effective policing.
Oji Ama also pledged to respect and preserve the culture and traditions of the people, noting that community confidence and cooperation were essential to achieving seamless and result oriented policing.
On his part, the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Chief Udorji Amaedu, commended the CP for his commitment to tackling insecurity and called for greater attention to value reorientation among youths.
Amaedu said the get rich quick mentality among some young people must be confronted as part of efforts to build a safer and more responsible society.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment by the government and police command to deepen cooperation, strengthen community participation and sustain the security gains recorded across Anambra.
