The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, has intensified community policing and inter-agency collaboration in the state, with a series of engagements with security stakeholders and inspections of police formations in the Ohafia axis.

Afolabi, who carried out the engagements on Friday, August 28, 2026, as part of the Police Community Safety Partnership Initiative directed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, began the exercise with a courtesy visit to the Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Brigadier General A.M. Diko.

The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the police and military in tackling security challenges and ensuring the safety of residents across Abia State.

Receiving the CP, the Brigade Commander assured him of the continued cooperation of the military, particularly in intelligence sharing and joint operations.

The CP later proceeded to the Ohafia Government Multi-Purpose Hall, where he held an expanded community safety partnership meeting with major stakeholders in the area.

Those at the meeting included local government mayors, traditional rulers, women and youth representatives, transport unions, hotel operators, farmers and traders’ associations, Abia State Homeland Watch, vigilante groups, community policing representatives, hunters and other security agencies, including the military.

The stakeholders raised several security concerns, including inadequate police manpower and mobility, external interference in arrests, alleged extortion and other unethical practices during investigations, the proliferation of unregulated security outfits and the destruction of farmlands by herders.

They also called for stronger collaboration among the police, youth organisations and traditional institutions to address emerging security challenges in their communities.

Responding, Afolabi reiterated the IGP’s zero-tolerance policy towards unprofessional conduct, assuring the stakeholders that measures had been put in place to check misconduct within the police.

He warned that officers found engaging in unethical practices would face disciplinary action, while sharing his contact details with the stakeholders to improve accessibility, accountability and direct communication with the police command.

The CP directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to identify and work only with recognised and approved community security outfits, warning them to take appropriate action against unregistered groups operating within their jurisdictions.

He also directed the Area Commander to convene a meeting with herders at the Command Headquarters to address concerns surrounding farming and grazing activities.

To improve public access to the police, Afolabi ordered that the contact telephone numbers of police divisions and the Area Command be prominently displayed outside their premises.

He further urged residents to adopt basic security measures, including the use of pedal and wheel locks on vehicles, maintaining good relationships with neighbours and promptly reporting suspicious persons or activities to the police.

The CP also advised community leaders to involve the police in employment processes within their communities to facilitate proper profiling and documentation of prospective employees.

He urged local security groups to maintain dedicated communication lines for effective information sharing and assured them that they would be included in forthcoming training programmes being organised by the command.

As part of the working visit, Afolabi inspected the police divisional headquarters in Arochukwu, Nkpuru, Abiriba and Bende, where he charged officers and men to maintain professionalism, discipline and strict adherence to the rule of law.

He also directed personnel to comply with the Nigeria Police Force social media policy, maintain proper dress codes and improve traffic management within their areas of responsibility.

The CP stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between the police and approved community security outfits, adding that the command would continue to invest in retraining programmes to enhance the capacity of its personnel to effectively serve and protect the public.