By Amara Ehia, Abakaliki
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, DIG Kanayo Uzuegbu Onwuemelie, has called on stakeholders in Ebonyi State and the Southeast region to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force in tackling insecurity and criminal activities across communities.
DIG Onwuemelie made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement held in Abakaliki as part of strategic security interventions initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He explained that the Inspector General directed the six Deputy Inspectors General supervising the geopolitical zones to embark on operational visits and engage critical stakeholders within their zones.
According to him, the exercise was designed to strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and deepen partnerships between the police and the people.
The DIG identified major security concerns in Ebonyi State to include land disputes, youth violence, reprisal attacks, conflicts involving cattle herders, child trafficking and highway robberies.
Onwuemelie criticised the use of the word “cultism” to describe violent crimes committed by criminal gangs, insisting that such terminology tends to glamorise criminality.
He also condemned the popular use of the term “Yahoo Yahoo” for internet fraud, warning that such expressions have gradually normalised criminal behaviour among some youths.
He urged community leaders to assist security agencies with timely information, mediation in communal disputes, youth reorientation and support in protecting children against trafficking and abuse.
Onwuemelie assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force would intensify intelligence gathering, increase patrols and improve response time to distress calls across the Southeast.
Speaking on the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, he disclosed that the amendment seeks to increase the allocation to the Fund from 0.005 per cent to one per cent of revenue accruing to the federation account.
