By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has lauded the people of Awka for their show of commitment to peace, security, and productive collaboration with law enforcement agencies, which he said has contributed immensely to the sustained safety and harmony in the capital city.
CP Orutugu gave the commendation on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, when he led a high-powered delegation of senior officers and friends of the Command on a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Traditional Ruler of Awka, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Gibson Nwosu, OON (Eze Uzu II).
The visit, according to the Police Command, was not only to honour the revered traditional institution but also to acknowledge and appreciate the peace-loving disposition of the Awka people, especially during the recently concluded Imoka Festival, which was celebrated without any incident of violence or criminality.
While interacting with the monarch, his cabinet members, and other palace stakeholders, CP Orutugu emphasized the significance of community-police cooperation in enhancing sustainable security. He described Awka as a shining example of what can be achieved when traditional institutions, residents, and security agencies work hand-in-hand in the interest of public safety and peace.
He further noted that the calm atmosphere recorded during this year’s Imoka Festival marked a remarkable shift from the past, where miscreants often took advantage of the celebrations to cause chaos and disrupt public order.
The Police Commissioner, while thanking the people of Awka for their exemplary conduct, also used the opportunity to call on other communities across Anambra State to emulate Awka’s model by embracing peace and supporting security agencies in their collective bid to ensure a safer society for all.
In response, Igwe Dr. Nwosu expressed gratitude to the CP and his entourage for the visit and the commendation. He also reassured the Police Command of his community’s continued support and cooperation in all efforts geared towards sustaining law and order in the state.
The CP and his delegation were warmly received by several high-ranking members of the Awka royal cabinet, including the Prime Minister of Awka, the Chief Security Officer of Nnamdi Azikiwe University who is also a palace member, some Awka kingmakers, and other respected chiefs of the kingdom.
The visit reaffirmed the growing synergy between traditional institutions and the police in strengthening grassroots security in Anambra State.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, observes that this 2025, under CP Orutugu, is the first in recent time that Imoka Festival was held without reports of chaos, violence and different forms of criminality, which had previously marred or disrupted the Festival, especially when hijacked by miscreants.
