IGP, South East governors strike deal on community policing

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the five South East governors yesterday agreed on modalities for the communal policing of the zone. Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and chief executive of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, told reporters in Abakaliki after a virtual meeting of the body that they had agreed with the police chief on a three phased implementation policy, accusing Mohammed of “frustrating an earlier agreement.”

His words: “For the past two hours, we have been having meeting with the Inspector General of Police alongside the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, traditional rulers and some stakeholders from the zone.

“There is no longer a disagreement between the governors and leaders of the zone with IGP Mohammed Adamu.” He stated that after the meeting, the police chief agreed that the security apparatuses at the communities should be deployed.

According to the Ebonyi governor, part of the agreement was the training of community members by the force, while the beneficiaries, would in turn, secure their settlements.

The governor clarified that the advisory committee would be headed by the traditional ruler of that community, adding that other select stakeholders were to act as members of the panel.

According to him, “this is at the community level, and it is well accepted by the and other leaders of the zone.”He said the IGP the commissioners of police in the area admitted making a mistake, as the selection process was faulted. He said it was entirely for the governors and stakeholders to pick members of the panel to enforce the community policing.