THE new Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade has warned officers and men in the Abia State Command against extortion and abuse of citizens’ human rights.
Oyebade told them that the Police is building “a proactive, community oriented, intelligence-led police that is alive to the responsibility of ensuring order, prevention of crime and protection of lives and property”. According to him, the police high command was all out to change the “perception of the public that see the police as a restive, corrupt and lethargic institution”. To this end, the Police Commissioner warned officers and men who are not ready to embrace the change to bow out or be shown the way out. Addressing them at the Police Officers’ Mess, Umuahia, Oyebade said: “My charge to officers and men of this Command is that they should perform their duties with the fear of God. In their patrols, in investigating crimes and even in their treatment of suspects, the job must be done with the fear of God at all times.
“We must be very firm but fair. We must respect the fundamental human rights of the citizens in the state. The present Inspector-General of Police has hatred for corruption. Therefore, all officers and men must eschew any form of extortion in whatever form.” Turning to the divisional police officers, DPOs, CP Oyebade reminded them that much of the police work is done at the divisional level and charged them to “create environment conducive for their subordinates to work effectively, realizing that their subordinates are their greatest assets.” He also pledged to take the welfare of the officers and men seriously. Meanwhile, the Commissioner has paraded two suspected said to specialize in staling packed car, especially Toyota Camry, which they quickly disposed off to a buyer in Port Harcourt. The suspects, Onyenweaku Chibunnam, who claims to be a pastor and Princewill Nnabugwu, who operate fro Ohafia, were said to have stolen over six Camry cars which they sold to Maxwell in Port Harcourt and used to money to procure musical equipment for the suspected pastor’s church. CP Oyabade said that under him, criminals were in for a rough time in the State.
