By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The new Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Dr Ikioye Orutugu, on Monday, assumed office and warned criminals to retrace their steps or face the wrath of law.
Orutugu, who took over from Pastor Nnaghe Obono Itam that has been redeployed to Force Headquaters as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Counter Terrorism Unit, Abuja, assured that the command was poised to deal squarely with all acts of criminality without regard for status.
According to him, the command would also address the attitude of the people on ideology bordering on attack on unsuspecting members of the public, security personnel, abduction, destruction of government infrastructures and other sundry offences.
The commissioner, while reassuring the Command's support to operation udo gá-achị security outfit and cooperation to sister security agencies and the media, pledged to take professional step towards crime prevention to enhance crime-fighting strategies through strategic deployment of intelligence assets.
He recalled that "Anambra State is blessed with vibrant, energetic and enterprising people full of potentials. These potentials can only be fully realized in a peaceful, secure environment.
There is no doubt also, that as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, you are a critical partner in the peace and security architecture of the State. Your primary role in communicating effectively and transparently to the general public, major incidents in the State confers on you the position of stakeholders."
Orutugu further paid an on the spot assessment visits to Udochukwu and Chikazor Ejezie family at Nnewi where Miss Chikaima Daviana, aged 9, Master Chimziterem Dominica, aged 7 and Master Chimdilim David, aged 5, were gruesomely murdered and dumped in a refrigerator, assuring justice for the deceased.
"Unlike other similar incidents recorded in the State which bordered on kidnapping of individuals and sudden disappearance of persons, we shall unravel the circumstances surrounding such and ensure that the suspects are arrested and justice served," he maintained.
The new commissioner, it was learnt, who hails from Brass LGA of Bayelsa State, holds a Doctorate Degree in Sociology of Education from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and was the immediate past Commissioner in charge of Counter Terrorism Unit, Abuja, as well as served as Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation, Ondo State.