The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has commended officers of the Enugu State Police Command, for their efforts which have brought relative calm to Enugu state despite prevailing security challenges.
DIG made the commendation during an operational visit to the command in Enugu as part of strategic operational assessment of the Enugu State Police Command aimed at strengthening security, improving operational efficiency and deepening intelligence-driven policing across the zone.
DIG Onwuemelie said the exercise was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police for all Deputy Inspectors-General to carry out assessments within their respective geopolitical zones to ensure that the administration’s policing vision is fully implemented.
He explained that the visit would focus on five key areas, including assessment of prevailing security threats, stakeholder engagement, interaction with officers and men, dissemination of the IGP’s policy thrust and development of strategic responses to peculiar security challenges in the South-East.
The DIG disclosed that the assessment would cover threats such as kidnapping, armed robbery, youth gang activities, communal violence and the proliferation of firearms.
He said plans were underway to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, youth and religious groups, northern community representatives, civil society organisations and university authorities to strengthen collaboration and address issues of youth radicalisation, gang violence and domestic violence.
He revealed that recent reports indicated incidents involving unlawful possession of firearms, impersonation and the arrest of long-wanted murder suspects, as well as conspiracy and abduction cases, including the kidnap of Hanan and Zara Usman at Ugwuogo.
He expressed concern over cases involving children aged seven, 11 and 12, stressing the need for stronger community engagement, early intervention and child protection mechanisms.
He said investigations had shown that activities previously described as cultism were increasingly linked to organised youth gangs and violent criminal networks, adding that the reclassification would help in developing more effective operational responses.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to intelligence-led and people-centred policing, he said officers’ welfare remained a top priority, with ongoing efforts aimed at regular promotions, improved housing and pension reforms.
On the ongoing debate over state police, the DIG assured personnel that no officer of the Nigeria Police Force would be disadvantaged under any emerging arrangement.
He announced plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence into investigative processes and disclosed that specialised training on AI applications for policing would soon commence across commands.
The DIG charged the Enugu State Command to intensify intelligence gathering in forest corridors, strengthen collaboration with vigilante groups and community leaders, enforce discipline and ensure that major criminal cases are promptly handled with timely and actionable updates.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to implementing the strategic directives of the Inspector-General of Police and the DIG.
Mamman said that the command had continued to record operational successes through intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security agencies.
He assured residents of sustained efforts to protect lives and property across the state.
The engagement attracted heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, youth leaders, community representatives and other stakeholders, who deliberated on practical measures to strengthen security architecture in the state.
