END OF RIFT: IGP AND SOUTH EAST LEADERS AGREE ON MODALITIES FOR REGIONAL SECURITY

South East Political Leaders and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, have agreed on guidelines for the establishment of joint community policing across the zone.

They reached the agreement during a virtual conference involving South East Governors’ Forum; the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Chief Jim Nwobodo; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and the IGP.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting in Abakaliki, the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, explained that Commissioners of Police in the zone were faulted for taking over the recruitment process for the security outfit.

Governor Umahi emphasised that they had resolved to make the recruitment community based to be supervised by traditional rulers, and Council Chairmen while a Law would be passed by various States Houses of Assembly to give the outfit a legal backing.

Governor Umahi added that those to be recruited would be trained by security agencies while Advisory Committees would be set up at the community, Local Government and state levels to supervise the operation of the security outfit.

The South East Governors had at the end of their recent meeting with other leaders of zone in Enugu rejected the IGP’s position for establishing of community policing in the zone, insisting it was not in line with the agreement reached in a meeting with the police boss months back in Enugu.

                                         AMECHI ODO
Online Reporter