Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Chukwuma, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the withdrawal of the police aides of some personalities, saying the lives of ordinary citizens are equally important.
Chukwuma bared his mind to TheNiche in an exclusive interview in Umuahia, where he described the posting of police officers to individual citizens as recklessness.
“Some personalities have more than enough, you cannot imagine a single person being policed by 20 policemen, it is reckless. When many lives are exposed to danger, why should a single person be policed by 20 policemen?” he wondered.
“If you are so important why should you need all this security around you. If these persons are so important they are not supposed to be afraid because it is God that guards.
“It is heartless for somebody to have that number of policemen at the detriment of others.”
Everyone important
Chukwuma insisted that no single person is more important than a thousand Nigerians, because everyone is important and “it is God that protects, not the number of policemen that serves under you.”
He said those who are well off do not remember the poor around them and that is why they are afraid they may be attacked.
Chukwuma described his investiture as the grand patron of the zonal Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) as a mark of confidence in him and other men of God.
“I have been an outspoken person, I can partner with them as a leader of the church, which can help the police and the community fight crime.
“We can also help sensitise people around us to know that security is a necessity, particularly at this time that the federal government is very much conscious about security and corruption.
“We will be able to help them preach against corruption, against insurgency and against all evil.
“So, I think it is a great honour which I dedicate to the men of God from this zone. We will do our best to help the police ensure that our community is secure.”
Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 9), Akila Gwary, who conveyed the regards of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, reiterated the determination of the police to fight crime and cater for officers.
He commended the PCRC for constructing a joint operations room complex with a hall.
“One of our problems is the absence of a joint operations hall. This hall would serve as a transit camp for men and officers and men that would be assembled for special duties within the command,” Gwary disclosed.
Police solicit public support
He solicited the support of all religious and traditional bodies as well as opinion leaders in the fight against crime as “the duty of policing the community should not be left alone for the police but must be a collaborative effort.”
Zonal PCRC Chairman, Ugochukwu Obi, said the project would help the AIG control and coordinate sensitive activities in the zone.
He stressed the need for reliable information from the public because “this is the whole essence of community policing. A proactive police are likely to excel in their duties more than a reactive one.”
