By Chinenye Ozor

Safe for the 2016 Ukpabi/Nimbo massacre, Enugu state had been relatively safe.    This was in spite of pockets of skirmishes that were recorded which the police have been able to tackle decisively.    The state police boss, Dan-Mallam Mohammed in an interview with Saturday Vanguard spoke of efforts made so far to tackle security challenges in the state.

Excerpts:

Security challenges

We have been able to tackle security challenges decisively in Enugu state since I came on board.    Enugu is now peaceful  and calm to the glory of God. I can proudly say that the command is  combat ready to tackle issues as they arise. We are on top of  situations in Enugu and its environs.    We have spread our dragnets to every  nook and cranny in the state. There is no longer hiding place for men of  the underworld in Enugu state. All the Area commands and police  divisions in the state are on red alert 24 hours daily. Enugu state is  not and will never be safe for criminals and kidnappers among criminal elements. I am  always in contact with all Area commanders and divisional police  officers in the state.

Forth-coming LG election

I have held meetings with the Area commanders and DPOs with regards to  the forthcoming elections in the state. I directed all the Areacommands and divisions to make sure that there is no leakage in terms  of security throughout the election period.    I can assure  you we are ready for the elections, every eligible citizen of the  state will cast his/her vote freely without molestation and  intimidation. The state police command will provide adequate security  to ensure hitch free elections. The police are non-partisan and as such would not get involved in political party affairs but  to ensure absolute security. I warned all the Area  commanders and DPOs not to take side in politics but to ensuremaintenance of law and order and protect lives and property. I urged  them to stick to that as the state command would not take it lightly  with any officer who goes contrary to the constitutional responsibility  of the police force. We have always asked the political parties to  avoid unnecessary sentiments u birder to ensure hitch free, fair and  transparent elections in the state. I directed the Area commands to  ensure adequate security and be neutral in their areas of  responsibility. We are on top of our game and know our constitutional  responsibility.

We have met with Enugu State  Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), political party leaders and  the contestants to make sure that the elections are hitch free. We do  not want any molestation and intimidation from any person, group of  persons or political parties and that was why we met them. The elections will be free and transparent in terms of  security related issues.

Relationship with the state Government

Since my arrival in February, the state police command has maintained a  cordial relationship with the Enugu state governor Hon. IfeanyiUgwuanyi. He has been very  supportive of the state police command both morally and in kind.    He was  always there each time the command called on him. The governor had assisted  the state police command in no small measures, sharing issues of  security with him. We will not let the state government down on  security issues in the discharge of our constitutional responsibility.

Uzo- Uwani LGA security challenges

At Uzo-Uwani, we are working assiduously to make sure the area is safe  and calm after the Nimbo incident in 2016. We have carried outthorough investigations to tackle the issues of kidnap and other  related crimes in the area. When I assumed office as commissioner of  police, we mobilised our team, mostly the anti kidnap unit, and went  into the reported cases in the area, only to detect that most of the  atrocious crimes were committed by indigenes who hid under the  neighbourhood watch to commit heinous crimes in the area.

Some people in the area acting as    neighbourhood watch used the identity of Fulani  herdsmen to commit heinous crimes. For the  past three months, the area has been very peaceful and calm. Presently, I have a special force patrolling the area to make  sure the place is safe and calm. The traditional rulers in the area  have been congratulating the state command; they came personally to  thank me for making the area safe and calm. They have been sending  text messages, encouraging me not to relent in constant patrol of the  area. My special team entered the Malaysian forest in the area, and demolished the shrine in the forest.

CRAN nomination award for the command PPRO

I wish to thank crime reporters association of Nigeria (CRAN), Lagos  for finding my PPRO worthy for an award which was a plus for the statecommand. We have been  objective in our dealings with the general public on issues of  security and the state police command will continue to partner the media on security  matters in the state. We are very happy for the nomination of the  PPRO for the CRAN award.

Advice to the general public

I also thank the people of Enugu state for their support and  assistance to the state police command. I implore the general public  to keep supporting the command in fighting crime, report any  suspected move to the nearest police station and not to take laws into  their hands. Members of the public should always be vigilant in their homes and  neighbourhood, co-operate with the police and give relevant informationfor crime prevention and detection to ensure hitch free society in  Enugu state and its environs.