Awka— The Nigeria Police have commenced the transfer of some of its officers in the South-East in an effort to combat the increasing spate of violent crimes in the zone.

It was gathered yesterday that the transfers affected mainly officers in Anambra and Abia States because of the rampant cases of kidnapping in the areas.

A police source, who preferred anonymity in Awka, said policemen who had stayed long in the states were either abetting crime or sabotaging the efforts of the command.

The source said that in Anambra alone, more than 3,000 officers and men were affected by the transfer to other states, including Sokoto and Borno.

Said the source:   “More than 500 senior police officers are also affected.  The transfer came after the recent visit of the Inspector-General, IG, of Police, Mr Ogbonna Onovo, to the zone where he directed that all those transferred be given seven days to report to their new commands.”

The source said that the IG further charged police officers to rededicate themselves to their duties and to develop new initiatives geared towards combating the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.