The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Baba Umar, has
ordered all Divisional Police Officers (DPO) in the state to immediately recall
all police officers attached to rich individuals as personal security.
Umar, who resumed duty in Anambra a week ago, said the
reason for the order was to ensure that there were enough policemen to secure
the state, as his primary mandate was to safeguard the lives and property
of
everyone not just the wealthy.
Speaking on a radio security programme sponsored by the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Anambra Broadcasting Service,
ABS, Umar said his men cannot be given out leaving the command with less
personnel to adequately police the state’s populace.
He said, “I am the chief law enforcement officer here, and
my job is to ensure security for the state. I have just told you what will
happen. Whether people come from Abuja, Lagos or wherever, we are not giving
our men to private individuals as personal security.”
The commissioner also said that as part of his crime
prevention strategy for the state, he has mapped out all the crime flash points
and also deployed his men to those areas to ensure effective policing.
“Mind you, I am not the kind of policeman who sits under the
air conditioner and let younger officers do the work. I am a field man. Just
last night, I was also up until 12am, patrolling the various checkpoints to
monitor my men.
“So there is no fear of them using the opportunity of the
posting to misbehave,” Umar said.
By Joe Chukindi
