*Says officers not doing enough

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has tongue-lashed officers and men of the various commands in the South East geo-political zone for not doing enough to curb the spate of kidnapping and other serious crimes in the area.

Mr. Onovo, who made his feelings known in Owerri while addressing senior police officers of Imo State Police Command, also fumed that criminals operate successfully and escape through the same roads manned by policemen.

“I cannot understand how, with all the checkpoints manned by policemen, kidnappers pass through them. I cannot understand how our men will be on roadblock and criminals commit crime and escape through the same roads,” Onovo fumed.

Angry with officers over rise in crime

According to the IGP, “the command may not have done well in maintaining peace but you failed in preventing serious crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery and this explains why I am here.”

He said: “Our mandate is to prevent crimes as well as protect lives and property. Can you say in all honesty that you have done this? We have lost men in the line of duty. You have arrested some criminals but your efforts are not good enough.”

Acknowledges internal problems

He warned that “our efforts will be zero if we are not committed to our constitutional duties,” stressing that although the police had some internal problems, they largely rest on the officers who are supposed to superintend over the younger ones.

“Some of you see police duties as civil service job. Over 5,000 men are posted to Imo State command. We have also posted 11 units of mobile policemen, as well as over 200 anti-terrorist personnel. So, when it comes to personnel, you have it,” Onovo said.
Continuing, the IGP said: “We now have functional vehicles, prompt salaries, promotions, communication gadgets and the future is bright. I don’t see why we can’t work. There are armed robbers and kidnappers still milling around. You have not apprehended them. You can’t tell me that not one person knows where they keep their arms.”

Addressing the issue of the kidnapped journalists, the IGP said the police was combing all parts of Abia State, adding that more men had been posted to the area, pointing out that the victims would be rescued and the perpetrators of the crime punished according to the law.

Ohakim commended

Welcoming the IGP earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aloysius Okorie, said Governor Ikedi Ohakim had in the last two months, donated 20 Toyota Hilux vehicles to the command.

“The state government has also ordered for 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers for the command. It equally released the sum of N10 million to the families of the deceased policemen that died in action. Government has continued to pay the allowances of the 11 units of mobile policemen, as well as the anti-terrorism squad,” Okorie said.