By Chisimdi Esther
Imo State Police Commissioner, Aboki Danjuma has assured the Catholic Church members and the entire Christian community in the state of adequate security in all their churches and prayer centers across the state.
CP Danjuma gave the assurance on Monday, when he led his top management team to visit Verbum Domini Pilgrimage and Retreat Centre, Obinze, a prayer facility owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.
The prayer facility is surrounded by forested areas, suspected to be hideouts for notorious criminal elements, who have been terrorising Obinze, Ihiagwa, Nekede and other neighbouring communities.
Speaking during the visit, the Police Commissioner said the Command has rejig security measures across the state, assuring that the initial prevalent security concerns including kidnapping, armed robbery, violent attacks, human trafficking among others have been addressed.
He however called for continued collaboration from external bodies especially from community and religious leaders towards enhancing security and sustaining the existing peace and stability in the state.
Danjuma said, "You will agree with me that our efforts of combing bushes and forests across the state to fish out any criminal hiding in them to perpetrate crimes in the State is yielding desired results. And we are not going to relent.
"Our target is to reduce crime to the barest minimum in Imo and also, to continually guarantee the overall safety and protection of all Imo residents, irrespective of religion, social class or tribe."
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"We are aware of the security challenge that this prayer center suffered in the past. So, I want to assure the Catholic community and all those making use of this place that we have strengthened security around here. There is no cause for alarm. There should be no fear at all. Imo is safe.
"However, we are still going to count on the continued support from the members of the public. We need actionable intelligence or useful information from everyone to succeed. Security is a collective task and we cannot do it alone." Imo Police boss added.
Meanwhile, the CP and his team, before the visit to the pligrimage centre, combed some forested areas within FUTO and Nekede axis and also made some arrest. The arrested suspects are currently undergoing interrogations and according to the Command's spokesman, DSP Henry Okoye, they would face prosecution if found culpable to any crime.
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