The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye has described journalists in Anambra as critical partners in their journey of sanitizing Anambra of crimes and criminalities.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that Adeoye stated this on Thursday during the April Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra state Council where they held an interactive session with the police commissioner ahead of his retirement next month.
Addressing NUJ members, the Police Commissioner represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Akin Fakorede explained that he brought about improved human relations and the welfare in the police force thereby bringing back their confidence in the force.
Adeoye while appreciating NUJ Anambra Council for kick starting activities marking his retirement with the programme noted that he was able to record successes because of the robust relationship he enjoyed with Anambra NUJ who he said has always communicated to the public activities of the command aimed at reducing crime to its barest minimum.
The interactive session was conceived and organized by the council to avail the CP Adeoye an opportunity to give the scorecard of his services and success stories as well as parley with Anambra journalists before he finally bows out of service after serving in the Nigerian Police Force for 35 years.
He highlighted some of the achievements of the command in nipping crime in the bud under his watch, saying that they are putting up strategies to put an end to killings and kidnapping in Awka and environs which he admitted has resurged.
Giving an overview of activities of the command under Mr Adeoye, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga noted that there has a been a boost in the police-community relationship since after series of meetings between the command and various communities of the state, adding that the police has been embarking on unannounced visits to some hideouts of the criminals which he said has resulted to arrest of many notorious suspects thereby bringing about peace in most parts of the state.
Ikenga also explained that Adeoye expanded the scope of intelligence and information gathering under his administration which led to bursting many gangs and recovery of many arms and ammunition hitherto in the hands of criminals even as he appreciated the synergy between the media and the command.
Earlier, the Anambra NUJ chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, commended CP Adeoye for the turn of events in Anambra since he came to the state last year in terms of security of lives and property, adding that he has succeeded in bringing peace to a large extent in Anambra.
Dr Odogwu prayed for long life in good health for police commissioner, urging him to always be available whenever he is called upon for advice on how to tackle any security situation in the state and country at large.
