By Emma Asie ANipr
(Mr E on the Mic)
The Anambra state command of the Nigerian Police force has condemned the recent protest by some residents of Awka during which some women stripped fully naked, describing it as immoral, obscene and "crime fighting back"
This view was expressed by the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Tochi Ikenga recently when he featured on Political Heat, an interactive political affairs phone in program on Alpha Radio 106.5 FM Nnobi anchored by Emmanuel Asiegbunam, Mr E on the Mic.
Recall that on Wednesday 22nd November, some residents of Awka town had embarked on a protest around the town, decrying the rising spate of insecurity and cult killings in the town and condemning the police for not focusing on crime fighting. The protesters carried placards indicting some top police officers for colluding with criminals. In the course of the protest, some women stripped stark naked.
The Police PRO while condemning the protest, affirmed that the people of Awka and indeed ndi Anambra are honorable and decent and are cooperating actively with the Police to ensure peace and order in the state and would not decend to such low levels in the name of any protest. He insisted that from intelligent reports gotten so far, the protest itself is sponsored by Chief Jeff Nweke , a prominent Ozo title holder in Awka and owner of Blue Shield Security Services, a private security outfit which used to partner with the police in maintaining security in Awka but fell out with the command when it diverted to land grabbing and other illegal activities. He said that the outfit is currently under investigation following some intelligent reports gotten from the recent arrest of a top cult member in the state. He also reported that some prominent sons and daughters of Awka had actually called the command to condemn the sponsored protest and deny the identity of the naked women as Awka indigenes. The Police according to the PPRO, is currently profiling the women to know who they actually are and where they come from.
On the allegations of complicity in the release of arrested cultists levelled against some top officers of the command particularly DCP Akin Fakorede and Inspector Monday Umana, DSP Tochi Ikenga absolved the officers of such activities and asked anyone with evidence of such to come personally to him for discreet and direct investigation. He maintained that the two officers are thoroughbred professionals with integrity and that all allegations against them so far are false and unfounded.
Responding to a caller's claim that the naked women were young widows who lost their husbands to recent cult killings in the town, the PPRO maintained that Awka town and Anambra state generally is peaceful and secure under the state police command and pleaded with those women to come directly to him to discuss their grievances, assuring them of prompt attention and utmost confidentiality.
Equally responding to claims of the command's involvement in a land dispute between Awka and Enugu Agidi (a neighboring community) the PPRO insisted that the police is neutral and does not get involved in such disputes except to intervene when necessary to prevent breakdown of law and order. He disclosed that the officers alleged to be involved in this were actually doing their jobs as professionals and condemned attempts to tarnish the image of the force by blackmailing the officers via a viral video of one of them allegedly receiving bribe offered by some faceless persons to take sides in the dispute. The PPRO claimed the video was a set up.
The PPRO commended the people of Anambra state for their cooperation in ensuring peace in the state and urged them to continue with it and not bow to any pressure to compromise security in the state.
To watch the full interview on Facebook, kindly click the link below
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1789299541520595&id=100001199183979&sfnsn=scwspwa&mibextid=RUbZ1f
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