Abia restrategises to curb insecurity, criminality, others

•Police confirm attack of Abayi station
• Govt places N1m bounty on attackers

Abia State Government has begun a workshop in Umuahia, the capital, to restrategise against insecurity and all forms of criminality in the state.

Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, who coordinated the workshop, said it was targeted at consolidating the state’s security status and creating more awareness, thus making it difficult for criminals to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

The 17 councils in the state, The Guardian gathered, will take the workshop in turns.

Agbazuere said welfare and security of the people as the primary responsibility of any government; hence the need to enlighten the people on how best to report criminality.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu solicited collaboration of stakeholders towards a successful war against criminality in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Ude Chukwu, the governor urged security forces in the state to assist government by enforcing the state’s extant anti-grazing laws, recalling that he had been assisting them with vehicles and necessary equipment, and would sustain the gesture.

According to Ikpeazu, enforcing the law on grazing would help reduce the issue of farmers/herders’ clashes in the state.

He tasked traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders to live up to expectation, stressing that “security of the state is, to a large extent, in their hands.”

The Commissioner of Police, Janet Agbede; Director of Security Services and Director Operations, Mr. Etuk Enang; and the Commander of 14 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Ohafia, Major O. B. Olayiwola, commended Ikpeazu for organising the workshop, enacting the law against criminality in the state as well as providing them with logistics support.

Executive Chairman of the host council, Umuahia North, Mr. Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye, advised that the messages from the workshop should be taken to various communities.

MEANWHILE, Abia State Police Command has confirmed that the attack on Abayi Police Station at World Bank Housing Estate in Osisioma Ngwa Council by hoodlums about 2am yesterday resulted in the death of a police officer.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said both the police and the hoodlums recorded casualties.

According to him, the police station and razed all the vehicles parked within the premises, adding that investigation into the incident was being effected.

THE state government has offered to pay N1 million for information that can lead to the arrest of the hoodlums and recovery of the arms carted away from the station.

The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Kalu, while reacting to the attack, stated: “We are determined to pay N1 million for any information leading to the recovery of any of the stolen arms and or arrest of any suspect. Anyone with such information can call +234 803 914 8294. Such information will be treated with the utmost secrecy it deserves.”

Similarly, the government called on banks and other vulnerable institutions to fortify security around their places of business, while advising all security formations in the state to remain on red alert until the situation improves.