The Commissioner of Police for Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has taken decisive action to enhance security in the Owerri West Local Government Area (LGA) in response to a surge in violent crimes.

The move aims to curb incidents such as kidnappings, rape, and murder that have been plaguing communities including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nekede, Ihiagwa, Avu, and Obinze.

Read also: Peter Obi urges Bola Tinubu to address security crisis in Nigeria

The initiative comes on the heels of the recent rescue of Samuel Ohiri, the immediate past chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, who spent three weeks in kidnappers’ captivity. The police have been grappling with the pervasive issue of abductions, which has been a recurring vice in the state.

In a statement issued by the police spokesman, Henry Okoye, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that the decision to reinforce security was prompted by the discovery of three decomposed corpses in the forest, believed to be victims of kidnapping. This forest had been a notorious den for suspected Fulani herdsmen kidnappers, terrorizing the Owerri-Port Harcourt expressway axis.

CP Aboki Danjuma, accompanied by his team, recently led an operation into the forest, exhuming three bodies and apprehending five suspects from the northern states of the country.

To address the escalating security concerns, CP Danjuma convened a crucial security meeting on February 1, 2024, with stakeholders from various communities in Owerri West LGA. The meeting, held at the Ihiawa Civil Clan Centre, aimed to foster collaboration between law enforcement and community members to develop proactive strategies to enhance peace and security.

Representatives from the 34 Artillery Brigade, the Department of State Services (DSS), traditional rulers, community leaders, and various organizations participated in the meeting. The discussions focused on sharing ideas on coexistence, assisting security operatives, and developing strategies to combat crime collectively.

In line with his proactive community policing strategy, CP Danjuma also paid a familiarization visit to the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, seeking partnerships and actionable intelligence for ensuring the safety of staff and students.