By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
To mark the maiden edition of National Police Day 2025, the Enugu State Police Command organized a town hall meeting and embarked on free health care services to commomerate the occasion.
The meeting, which took place at the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Hall, Enugu sports club, was attended by different stakeholders comprising traditional rulers in the state, vigilante groups, students, youth leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), government officials, members of Arewa and Yoruba communities and others.
The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mammam Bitrus Giwa, in his opening address, emphasized that the meeting was conveyed to engage the police and community in order to re-strengthen the partnership and also enhance security in the South-East Nigerian State.
Giwa said that the meeting’s theme: “The Police and the Community; Pathway to Strengthen Partnership for Enhanced Security in Enugu State’, was carefully chosen to guide the discussion towards fostering stronger collaboration between the police and communities.
He warned policemen in the Command against extortion, stating that anybody caught in the act “will hear” from him.
The CP threatened to send any policeman that extorts civilians to ‘harsh’ parts of the state that possess next to no valuable economic life or infinitesimal crime ratio where they will not see anybody to extort.
THe Commissioner promised that the Command will continue to hold stakeholders’ meeting to get feedback from the people, urging anybody with useful information to always feel free to approach him, saying he has an open door policy.
He commended the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, over his support to the police, pointing out that the governor has set the pathway by his huge investment in procuring vehicles and other logistics to ensure that the state is secured.
The Enugu Police boss said he was marvelled when he saw the State Command and Control Center and restated his commendation to the governor over his efforts to ensure that the state is secure.
The Commissioner also advised people to always insist on the position of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the searching of phones by cops as the IGP had halted police personnel from such act.
He said that there are situations where phones can be searched, insisting that such are not on the road.
Governor Mbah, in his speech, said that his administration will continue to prioritise security infrastructure in order to ensure secured business and living environment in the State.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Sunday Ajogwu, assured the Nigeria Police Force of his administration’s continued support in its mandate to fight criminality, vice and unscrupulous elements.
“This administration has made huge and unprecedented investment in security in less than two years and we are not stopping at that; since security is dynamic and evolving issue.
‘’To continue on the honorable path we have chosen, we have launched the Enugu State Security Trust Fund.
“The Security Trust Fund will ensure that the security infrastructure provided is maintained and more investment is made to give our people the best and ensure adequate protection of lives and property in the state.
‘’These positive measures will definitely translate to increase in commercial activities, attract multi-million naira investments and networth individuals to come and live as well as invest,” he said.
Mbah applauded President Bola Tinubu for approving the National Police Day meant to celebrate and appreciate positive impact and sacrifices of police personnel to the nation.
The governor also appreciated all police personnel for joining the state government in fighting heinous crime and chasing criminals out as well as ending the illegal and economy-draining Monday sit-at-home practice.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ibegwa Nike community in Enugu East LGA, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu, urged the people to give the police and its personnel maximum cooperation to perform efficiently.
Ugwu, who represented the traditional institution, said that “security is most times local and peculiar.”
He added: “The police should also work closely with local vigilante group, neighbourhood guards and forest guards to gather intelligence and be more proactive in the discharge of their duties.”
