By Juliana Nwachukwu
The State Police Commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has warned and vowed to arrest any body whose building collapses to bear the consequences of the collapse.
Orutugu who is worried on incessant building collapse in the state gave the warning during his familiarization visit to Onitsha Police Area Command, expressing worry at the use of inferior materials for buildings which according to him results in sudden collapse of new buildings.
“For those of you who use inferior building materials, if the building collapses I must arrest you. So you better start running out of the state because you are the cause of the collapse of the building.
“Lives are sometimes lost and property estimated into millions of naira lost as a result of the collapse of the building caused by use of inferior materials to build,” he lamented.
On security, the CP commended the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, for his efforts in bringing crimes and criminality, especially violent ones to zero tolerance in Onitsha and its environs.
The CP who expressed satisfaction with the officers and men of Onitsha Area Command, urged the people in the area to continue to give the Police Area Commander, Nzota cooperation and information toward criminals in the area, assuring that the identity of such informants will be protected.
The CP who also said that because of Nzota things are getting better in Onitsha commended the people in the state for shunning the protest, adding that the people in the state are known for trade and commerce and will not leave their business to embark on protest.
“I was called from Abuja and asked about the situation in Anambra regarding the protest and I replied that Anambrarians do not involve themselves in such protest. Anambra people know where they are going in terms of security. Anambra people have become wiser. Buying and selling is the business of Anambra people.
“I have urged the people to remove their hands from politics and focus on business. Onitsha is the largest trading post in west Africa. People come from Cameroon, Niger, Benin, among others to buy and sell in Onitsha.
“In Onitsha we also have Hausas, Yorubas, TVs, Calabar, Efik, and other tribes . If you are in Onitsha as a police man and you don’t get problem from Onitsha drug, (Ogbogwu) market, then you thank your God because they are part of the problems in Onitsha.
“Let us declare that there is no more sit-at-home in Anambra, people are suffering and Onitsha is gradually losing its fame. People no longer talk of Onitsha because of politics. I plead to Onitsha traders to open their shops and forget about negative stories that make them not to open their shops.
“Thank God that Chairman of Onitsha Main market, Hon. Chijioke Okpalaugo is here, Security is assured. We are working with Agunaechemba and we also train them on security issues,” CP said.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Security Matters, Chief Chinenye Ihenkor (a.k.a. Okpompi), expressed satisfaction with Onitsha Area Commander, Nzota, saying that he has been very cooperative with Agunaechemba.
He described the Anambra State CP, Orutugu as the father of the Agunaechemba, explaining that for 28 years, “I have led so many operations in this job of security. Anambra is calm now for a year, Onitsha is a sensitive place and God uses the Onitsha Police Area Commander to calm it, no complaints from Onitsha for the past eight months now, courtesy of Nzota,” Okponkpi said.
Expressing satisfaction with the CP’s visit, the chairman of Onitsha Main market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, commended the CP for assuring security in the state, especially on Mondays that is regarded as sit-at-home, saying that he will ensure that markets open on Mondays.
He paid glowing tribute to the Onitsha Police Area Commander for his efforts in ensuring security in the area, recalling that formerly the state was almost taken over by criminals, especially Onitsha and expressed satisfaction as security has been restored.
Among those that graced the occasion included, Chief Executive Officer Crystal Garden Estate Ltd, Eminent Amb. Dr Simeon Kelvin Chukwu; Hon. Egwuonu Ifeanyi; Hon Bethram Chukwuma; Barr. Njoku Moses Sunday of Divine Mercy Chambers; CSP Ogoma Chima (2ic Area Commander), CSP Chioma Best Ubani, and CSP Chioma Onyema.
High point on the occasion was lecture to the officers and men of the Police Area Command by the CP.
Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
