By Tobias Ekirika
Residents of Fegge in Onitsha, have declared a new era of peace and security in the area, following what community leaders described as a drastic reduction in crime under the leadership of the Divisional Police Officer of Fegge Police Division, CSP Effion Okon.
Speaking during the official visit of the Area Commander, ACP Fasugbe Temitope Olajire, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Chief Godfrey Maduekwe, said the community can now “sleep with their two eyes closed” due to the improved security architecture in the area.
According to him, incidents of kidnapping, phone snatching, armed robbery and other criminal activities that once troubled residents have significantly reduced through the combined efforts of the police, local vigilante groups and other security agencies operating within the division.
Chief Maduekwe praised the proactive policing style of CSP Effion Okon, noting that the collaboration between security agencies and community stakeholders has restored confidence among residents and business owners in Fegge and adjoining communities.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of TransGlobe Pharmaceuticals, Chief Eli, commended ACP Fasugbe Temitope Olajire for maintaining strong supervision across divisions under his command. He described the Area Commander as an experienced and accessible senior police officer whose regular visits would further strengthen police-community relations.
The businessman pledged continuous support for the Fegge Police Division, stressing that security remains everybody’s responsibility.
Community leaders including the President General of Fegge Community, Chief Okwudili Obinwanne, and the President General of Woliwo Community, Chief Ifanyi Onwuabuchi, also applauded the renewed synergy between the police and local vigilante operatives.
They stated that the four communities under Fegge Police Division have witnessed remarkable improvement in security since CSP Effion Okon assumed office as DPO.
Responding, ACP Fasugbe Temitope Olajire thanked the PCRC and community leaders for their confidence in the Nigeria Police Force and urged residents to sustain the existing cooperation with security agencies.
The Area Commander emphasized the importance of community policing, noting that effective crime fighting can only succeed when residents and the police work together in trust and partnership.
He advised members of the public to report any misconduct by police officers through appropriate channels instead of taking the law into their own hands, adding that his contact details are publicly available across the Area Command.
ACP Temitope further encouraged residents to continue providing useful information to security agencies, assuring them that all intelligence shared with the police would be treated confidentially to ensure effective operations against criminal elements.