Community Policing: A’Ibom CP Harps On Community Leaders’ Role To Foster Improved Security
The Akwa Ibom State Police Commissioner, CP Imohimi Edgal, is certain that cooperation between community leaders and the police could greatly improve security and community policing, thereby ensuring crime reduction in human society.
CP Edgal said his resolve to adopting community policing philosophy and community partnership approach has yielded tremendous results in the last four months.
While addressing a town hall meeting of all the 31 paramount rulers led by the chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, His Eminence, Dr Solomon Etuk, and 31 council chairpersons led by the ALGON Chairman, Mr Frank Archibong, the Police Commissioner called on all community leaders to be disposed to working with their divisional police officers and area commanders.
“We have adopted community policing approach and this is perhaps why Akwa Ibom is the safest state in Nigeria.
“I will grant request to enhance security to any paramount ruler who is up to the task of working out the security issues in their domains. Security is about gathering intelligence. This is why you cannot compromise meeting your security chiefs at least once in a month.
CP Imohimi Edgal listed his achievements since arriving the state four months back to include the recovery of the headless body of 82 years old Cecilia Isong from Abak LGA, who was beheaded by a principal suspect, Lucky Michael, together with eight others, who have all been arrested by the police.
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He narrated the ordeal leading to the rescue and reuniting of an abducted victim, a female student of the University of Uyo, Ekpono-Abasi G. Eduok, and the surveillance and arrested of one Joshua Okon Archibong of Ekpene Ibia village in Uruan LGA by Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad.
He explained that further investigations led to the arrest of Effiom Etim Effiong, Julius James Akpan, Peter Ita Inyang, Edet Bassey Etim a.k.a “Commander”, Samuel Effiong Bassey a.k.a “Abacha and Eyo Nelson Ottoh, all male of Uruan Local Government Area and recovery of various items for armed robbery activities.
CP Edgal revealed that his team also arrested Nse U. James, Love Okereafor in Aba, Comfort Edet Effiong in Ifa Atai and many others who confessed of abducting and selling several children and that they have been charged to court.
Appealing to village heads, paramount rulers and council chairmen to engage the neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups to tackle local security breaches, the CP charged them to hold frequent security meetings in their various domains.
The Police Commissioner who assured the royal fathers and council chairpersons of his full commitment and cooperation towards crime fighting in the state, prevailed on them to do their best to arrest issues that should be sorted out at their levels.
However, many of the royal fathers lamented poor funding of their offices, saying their responsibilities and expectations from community people were far above their financial powers and called on government, especially the council chairpersons to assist.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Chapter Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Frank Archibong, has reassured that council chairpersons were sincere and committed partners on security concerns.
He pleaded with the police boss to call regular security interface between them to afford timely appraisals of security situations in the state.
