Traditional ruler of Nnewi community, Anambra state, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III has expressed worry over what he described as odd time arrest by security agencies in the area, urging the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr John Abang to wade into the matter.
He also raised the alarm over the rising cases of child abduction in the area.
The monarch spoke through the Crown Prince, Obianefo when he hosted security agencies operating in some parts of the State for their efforts to secure Nnewi and the environs.
“We’re not comfortable with the hour of arrest by the men of anti-cult. Sometimes they come for arrest by 3:00 a.m. Such early hours often send panic to residents,” he said.
He appealed for tags and vests to be provided for commercial motorcyclists in the area in addition to their identity cards for easy identification.
Responding, CP Abang said Police had no special time to make arrests, but assured they must work with human face as well as take appropriate action at the event of infridgement of anyone’s right.
He commended the Nnewi community for a well structured security architecture through an organized local vigilance arrangement working in tandem with the police which he said, he had personally investigated.
Assuring of a continuous robust policing to bring down criminal activities in the state to the barest minimum, Abang appealed to community leaders and other residents to assist the police in fishing out criminals in their various domains.
He said, “I take everybody’s call irrespective of who the caller is for about a year and few months I assumed duty as the CP of the State. I would like to improve on what I met on ground. Policing in Anambra is not a tea party. Police have no special time to make arrests but we must work with human face and will take appropriate action if anyone’s right is infringed.
“Our greatest problem is that Anambra is now infested with cultism and cult activities which is now prevalent even in our secondary schools. There is need for town hall meetings to address the issue which is now a big challenge. Barbars, Keke drivers and all kinds of people are now cult members.”
He named communities like Awka, Onitsha, Nkpor, Nnewi, Ihiala, Obosi, among others as the areas whose community leaders should do all they could to assist the police in getting rid of the antisocial activities. He said he had always instructed his men to partner with the local vigilance groups in their operations.
He thanked the Igwe and Nnewi community for the gift of appreciation given to him.
Among the security agencies hosted by the monarch included the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Special Anti-Cult Police Squad (SACPS), Vigilance groups members
Also appreciated were the Area Commander, Nnewi, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Sunday Areh; Divisional Police Officer, Nnewi Central Police Station, Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Nnamdi Harrison Anabike; Mr Ayuba Ahmadu, Officer-in-Charge, Nnewi SARS; the commander, (SACPS), Nnewi, Superintendent of Police, Mr Chukwudi Okorogu and Commander, Nnewi vigilante, Maduka Atuenyi.