Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
QUIT your criminal activities. Leave the state. Or face the music.
That was the message Anambra State government and security agencies sent out to robbers, kidnappers and other villains in the state this week.
The state recently acquired Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and also trained some residents and police personnel in handling and maintaining them. The new acquisitions and probably other resources on the ground buoyed the state government and the security community to issue a warning to the felons.
No fewer than 25 citizens of the state and 20 policemen were trained in the maintenance of the Smart City security equipment CCTV launched in the state last week
It would be recalled that Anambra State government last week launched security equipment including CCTV to ward off criminal activities in the state.
Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Creative Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Awka, the state capital, while briefing reporters.
Chiobi said the 20 police officers would work with the 25 others trained in monitoring the smart cameras to make life uncomfortable for the criminals
He said the initial number of civilians targeted to man the control room was 100 before it was reduced to 25 after extensive vetting.
Chiobi, added that the training would be extended to other security elements in the state to guarantee steady adequate security manpower.
Also, Special Adviser to Obiano on Security and Safety Chief Chikaodi Anarah said the government was serious in making sure the state remained the safest in the country.
Anarah said investors had started trooping to Anambra since the present administration came up, adding that kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists should relocate, because the state was no longer conducive for them.
AVM Chiobi said, “We intend to extend the training to other security elements in the state, so we won’t run out of manpower if we have any reason to carry out operations in riverine areas,” he said.
Describing the equipment as Anambra integrated security, Chiobi explained that the gadgets have the capacity to capture images and footings of criminals in the state.
On arrangements to forstall vandalism of the gadgets, the security expert hinted that solar panels would be placed inside trailers where they would be manned by armed policemen.
He said, “To avoid vandalism, we decided to put them on trailers so we can move them, and in such occasions, they will be properly manned by armed policemen to keep bandits away.”
Chiobi further explained that there might be certain challenges in the course of the operations, being the pilot episode in the country.
“We should expect teething challenges because we are not copying from anywhere. I’m sure other states will eventually come to learn from us.
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“They are free to come as our doors are open to share information. After all, Anambra can only be safe if other neighbouring states are safe and by extension, the entire country.”
Earlier, Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Hon Primus Odili said the governor had continued to prioritise security as no meaningful development could take place without adequate security of life and property.
He, however, regretted the speed at which the people of the state had forgotten Anambra checkered security history.
Odili said, “Our people seem to have been having temporary anmesia. Give them two or three weeks, they would have forgotten.
“Before now, people go to their shops by 10 to 11 am and by 5 to 6 pm they are already locking their shops running back home for safety.
“But with the emergence of Governor Obiano, the whole scenario changed. As the criminals are innovating strategies, the governor is pre-empting them by thinking ahead.”
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