EFFECTIVE POLICING, SECURITY: IGP, PAC INAUGURATE ANAMBRA BRANCH

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase and the Director General of Police Assistance Committee, PAC, Dr Martin Oni have inaugurated the Anambra State branch of the Committee in a bid to eradicate crime in the area. Arase, who was represented by the state Police Commissioner Mr. Hosea Karma, also represented by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Central Police Station, CPS Onitsha Mr. Mark Ijarafu during the ceremony urged over 30 members of the committee show good examples to the residents in the state who looked up to them for direction. “As members of PAC you stand to benefit a lot of things, just as you are an eye of the Police to the public and should not be people of questionable characters, but people who will show good example that is worthy of emulation by the public,” he said. In his speech the Director General of PAC, Dr Martin Oni who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator PAC, Mr. Tony Nwabeke told the inductees that the organisation was non-profit making but security conscious. “PAC is a voluntary organization that sponsors its activities with its own funds; we build security networks for easy flow of security information to the security operatives who will use such information to fight crimes,” Oni added. Earlier in his address, the state Chairman of PAC who doubles also as the Chairman Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association AMATAS, Chief Vincent Ifeme said that PAC’s formation was in response to IGP’s call some years ago for individuals and private organizations to provide their own input towards crime fighting. He said the slogan Police is your friend, no make am your enemy had not been realized because of the uneasy relationship between the Police and the average Nigerian. “The cat and dog relationship between the Police and Nigerians has continued to create bottlenecks for the Police in their duty of crime fighting/prevention…,” adding that, despite their best efforts, they have not been able to fight crimes because of lack of information, which can only be supplied by members of the public. “Accessing the needed information from wary or openly hostile common man is difficult, if not impossible. The need therefore, arises for a bridge to be built to bring the Police and the general public closer to form a mutually beneficial relationship. “Many of us being naugurated today are chairmen of various markets in the state, and the reason is that we feel that traders; artisans under their leaders are in a better position to furnish the police with right information that will enable them carry out their duties more effectively and efficiently and to allay fears… which the average Nigerian seems to harbour about the Police,” he added.