Anambra CP Enlist Non-Indigenes in Fight Against Crime, Demand Zero Tolerance
By Our Reporter
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr Nnanna Oji Ama, has enlisted non-indigenes living in the state in the fight against insecurity, urging them to strengthen community-based security efforts through proper identification, member profiling and closer collaboration with security agencies.
CP Oji Ama gave the charge while receiving the Executive Committee of the Association of Non-Indigenes in Anambra State (ANIAS), which paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Amawabia Awka South Local Government Area.
Ama urged the association’s leadership, including Sarkis, Kabiyesis, Obongs, the Attah of Igala and Igbo community leaders, to enforce zero tolerance for crime and criminality across the 179 communities in the state.
He commended ANIAS for initiating a database of its members, describing the initiative as an important security measure that could enhance the identification of residents, strengthen intelligence gathering and contribute significantly to the fight against insecurity.
The police commissioner, who also declared himself a member of the association, disclosed that several senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioners of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, were also members of the organisation by virtue of its definition of non-indigenes.
“By the definition of this association, I am also a member of the Association of Non-Indigenes in Anambra State. The Deputy and Assistant Commissioners of Police, and even some Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, are also members,” he said.
Ama, however, challenged the association to translate its security commitments into tangible results, warning its leadership against compromising efforts to ensure a crime-free Anambra State.
“But I must say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I charge the association not to compromise its drive towards ensuring a crime-free Anambra State. I also wish to state that the association has the full support and backing of the Command in this regard,” he said.
The commissioner further urged leaders of settler communities from the northern, southern and western parts of the country to maintain close contact with the police and other security agencies in the course of their activities.
He said such cooperation would promote effective coordination, improve information sharing and prevent criminal elements from exploiting communication gaps.
He noted that leaders representing the country’s six geopolitical zones in Anambra State had important roles to play in tackling insecurity.
He therefore encouraged them to work closely with the association’s executive committee, the Police Command and other security agencies to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
“I know we have leaders of the six geopolitical zones across the country in Anambra State, and they should work with the executive and the Command, alongside other sister security agencies, in the fight against insecurity,” Ama said.
Earlier, the President of ANIAS, Prince Chigozie Nweke, described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen the existing relationship between the association and the police.
He assured the Command that the organisation would sustain its efforts to prevent crime and criminality among its members.
Nweke said the association regarded security as a shared responsibility and would continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure that non-indigenes residing in Anambra State remained law-abiding and contributed positively to the peace, stability and development of their host communities.
“With what we have been doing so far, it is a testament to our bond with the security agencies in Anambra State, especially the Police Command. We shall continue to work hand in hand to ensure that our members do not take to criminality,” he said.
He explained that ANIAS had established a database of its members as part of its efforts to improve identification, accountability and security within the non-indigene community.
According to him, the initiative was subsequently adopted by the Anambra State Government, prompting the association’s leaders in various communities to collaborate with recognised leaders of their respective host communities.
Nweke said the collaboration had yielded far-reaching results, adding that ANIAS would continue to promote peaceful coexistence, responsible conduct and cooperation between non-indigenes and their host communities.
He reiterated the association’s commitment to working with the police and other security agencies to ensure that its members did not become sources of insecurity but remained active partners in maintaining peace and order throughout Anambra State.
