Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has handed over 50 armoured vehicles to the police.
Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Abubakar took delivery of the vehicles on behalf of the state command.
The gesture was warmly received, but it was indeed one of the governor’s strategies to curb crime in the state.
For instance, there has not been any reported case of violent armed robbery or kidnapping in the state recently.
The state was peaceful and calm during the Yuletide. People who returned from Christmas holidays moved freely from one community to the other.
Newsextra gathered that over 300 people were kidnapped before the Obi administration started demolishing the hideouts of kidnappers and their associates. This action dislodged many kidnappers.
The fear before Christmas was that many would not return home as a result of increased kidnapping and violent robbery that characterised the Southeast. The Campaign for Democracy rated the region, including Anambra, a kidnappers’ zone. Governor Obi reassured that the state would be safe and calm.
To ensure that his promise to the people was fulfilled, the governor embarked on a comprehensive mobilisation of the citizens to be part of security efforts. He engaged them in a series of meetings with security operatives. That paid off as many citizens hailed the hitch-free Christmas and New Year festivities.
Many residents are quick to attribute the absence of crime within the period to Obi’s effective strategies on security.
A community leader, Chief Anthony Agidigbo Oguejiofor and a publisher, Mr. Ethel Uyanna had congratulated Governor Obi on giving the people ‘another peaceful Christmas season.’
Chief Oguejiofor and Uyanna said that the governor’s extraordinary commitment to issues of security of lives and property in the state had resulted in reduction of crime rate over the years.
“However, this state of protection is better appreciated in this festive period. He said: “In December every year, the governor gives N2m to each of the 177 communities in Anambra State for security arrangements and palliative work on rural roads. By sustaining that arrangement, he has achieved results.”
They further observed that this was consolidated with the governor’s empowerment of unemployed youths.
“Those who would have been idle and a threat to society have been meaningfully engaged in one form of work or the other. We commend the governor not just for this sense of security but also for restoring people’s confidence in government.
“It is clear to us that businesses are growing in the state. More companies are opening shop and employing people. The number of hotels in Awka alone has tripled in the past two years. This would not have been possible in a state of insecurity.”
They therefore called for increased support for the administration, noting that if the people contribute their quota, governor Obi would be able to do more for the people.
The Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Abubakar received over 50 armoured vehicles from the Anambra State government for improved security in the state.
This, Governor Obi said, was immediate fulfilment of his promise to make security of lives and property the priority of his government in 2013 as contained in his New Year broadcast.
According to Obi, three of the vehicles are armoured security vehicles while 50 of the vehicles are patrol vans.
Presenting the security vehicles to the IGP Abubakar at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia Obi said this brings to over 350 which he has so far presented to security organisations in the state.
Obi said that other security agencies would receive theirs. He assured the police of continued support from Anambra State.
He said: “May I re-assure the Inspector-General of Police and the entire police that Anambra State will continue to work with them for the security of the state and the country at large. We enjoin all Nigerians to do same.”
Explaining the reason for the gesture, Obi said it was borne out of his belief that the state needed security to sustain her achievements and record, which he said will not be possible in an atmosphere of insecurity.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police who said he was in the state to appraise security situation, received the keys to the vehicles from Governor Obi. He thanked him for his commitment to security, saying that each time the governor visited him in Abuja, it must be on how to improve the security of his people. He said he was also happy coming to Anambra State because the state has remained an example of how other states ought to support security agencies for the good of the country.
He also commended Obi for his contributions to the re-positioning of the police through his membership of the Police Funding Committee.
He said that under governor Obi, the state had moved from her ugly past and had become more peaceful, secured, stable, progressive and safe.
While commending Obi and the Anambra Police Command for their efforts at securing the lives and property of the people, the IGP said that the police have posted more 500 of her personnel to Anambra State. He also hinted the possibility of establishing more area commands in the state for efficient and effective policing.
He also reiterated his commitment to a safer Anambra State. He said that going by the nature and extent of support the police in Anambra were enjoying from the governor, there was no reason for them to fail.
Later, Governor Obi took the Inspector-General of Police to Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nnewi, where he inspected the plant, including the 300 security patrol vehicles ordered and paid for by Anambra State government to be distributed to the communities in the state.
Speaking to the press, the Inspector-General, who said he was impressed by what he saw, said that he would look at the vehicles manufactured at the industry in terms of suitability for security purposes for them to patronise it.
