By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has intensified operations against the illegal Sit-at-Home order, with the new Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, leading a campaign to discourage residents from complying with the directive and urging them to go about their lawful activities without fear.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the advocacy, launched on Monday, March 3, is part of the Command’s strategies to restore full normalcy in the state.
He noted that CP Orutugu expressed deep concern over the negative impact of the Sit-at-Home order on Anambra’s social and economic growth and emphasized the need to sensitize the public on the dangers of submitting to such unlawful directives, which have crippled businesses, education, and daily life in many parts of the state.
The Police Commissioner reassured Ndi Anambra that his administration had mapped out new security strategies to combat criminal elements who hide under the guise of enforcing the Sit-at-Home order to perpetrate crimes, including attacks on innocent citizens, security personnel, kidnappings, destruction of government infrastructure, and other acts of lawlessness.
To sustain peace and security, CP Orutugu announced that the Police and other security agencies have now taken full control of the streets, particularly on Mondays and other affected days, to prevent intimidation and ensure that residents move about freely. He also urged business owners, market traders, transport operators, and civil servants to defy the illegal directive and fully resume their daily activities, assuring them of adequate protection.
He noted that Anambra is a state blessed with hardworking, enterprising, and resourceful individuals whose full potential can only be realized in a secure and stable environment. Stressing that the state’s economy is largely driven by trade and commerce, he lamented the setbacks caused by the illegal order, particularly the loss of revenue and business opportunities, and called on all residents to contribute to the collective effort to end it.
Beyond security deployments, the CP also disclosed that the Police Command is actively engaging local leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, and other key stakeholders in dialogue to address the fears and other related factors fueling the sustenance of the Sit-at-Home order, and find lasting solutions. He emphasized that tackling the menace requires a combination of security action, community collaboration, and public enlightenment.
CP Orutugu also urged Ndi Anambra to remain law-abiding and cooperative, emphasizing that the Police, in collaboration with other security agencies, are fully prepared to maintain law and order while tackling the underlying factors sustaining the illegal directive. He also reassuredly warned that anyone attempting to forcefully enforce the Sit-at-Home order would face the full wrath of the law.
The Police Boss reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring that Anambra remains safe, secure, and conducive for business, education, and social activities; even as he called on residents to report any threats or intimidation to the Police, assuring that security operatives are fully mobilized to respond swiftly to any breach of peace in the state.
The police team, during the advocacy campaign, visited different parts of the state, where they addressed the public on the need to stop ‘sitting at home’.
