The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Mr. Yabo Muhammad yesterday in Onitsha Area Command charged officers and men of the unit to always work towards gaining public confidence and improve their relationship with the masses.
According to him, by so doing, the same members of the public would feel free to volunteer useful information that could assist them in the discharge of their jobs and foiling kidnapping as well as other criminal activities before such crime are perpetrated.
The Police boss who was at the area’s Community Relations Community (PCRC) hall, Onitsha, during his familiarization tour of the Area Command, said it was more beneficial for officers to make friends with the masses and gain their confidence and support than to scare them away with unnecessary harassments.
He charged them to always take proactive measures in bursting crime before they are carried out, rather than waiting for the crime to be committed before they would start looking for the criminals, adding that they must be very proud of their job and carry out their duties efficiently.
He pointed out that the banning of roadblock in the country does not include stop-and-search, but warned against collecting money for bail, adding that bail is still free and anyone who insist on using his position to collect money for bail body must surely suffer the consequences during and after his service.
He warned them to lead a refined life or else they must pay for any misdeed they committed in one way or the other, either by dying in accident, by sickness or by sudden and unnatural means, adding that the issue of accidental discharge and misuse of firearms are no longer tolerable within the police force.
He also advised them to steer clear of civil matters to avoid being sued, adding: “if they take you to court, find you guilty and award let’s say N10 million cost against you, the police will come to Anambra where you are serving and deduct the N10million from Anambra command’s pause and thereafter, you, the guilty defendant would be made to pay for it”.
Earlier in his address, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Wordu had recalled that before now it was violent crimes everywhere in Onitsha, coupled with the activities of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and other miscreants, adding that with the concerted efforts of the various security operatives they were able to suppress them maintain peace and tranquility in the commercial city of Onitsha.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards to the AIG, the chairman of Onitsha North vigilance service, Chinenye Ihenko (a.k.a.Okpompi), some members of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Onitsha Area command by the chairman of the PCRC, Sir Vic Agubisi (a.k.a. Action chairman).
