Abia won't provide a sanctuary for lawbreakers, vows newly appointed Police Commissioner

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The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Wilfred Afolabi, has said that the state will not serve as safe haven for criminal elements, just as he vowed to run an accountable, professional and intelligence-driven police force focused on safeguarding lives and property across the state.

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Afolabi stated this on Tuesday during his maiden briefing with senior officers of the command. He warned against extortion and vowed to make Abia uncomfortable for criminals.

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Addressing the officers, the CP said he came to Abia with “a singular focus: to serve with integrity, enforce the law without fear or favour, and safeguard the lives and property of every resident.”

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“My mission is to effectively drive, implement, and practicalise the ongoing strategic re-engineering agenda of the Inspector-General of Police. The IGP’s vision remains our operational roadmap,” he said.

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He warned officers against extortion, corruption and any conduct capable of bringing disrepute to the command, stressing that accountability and professionalism remained non-negotiable.

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Afolabi reaffirmed that intelligence-led policing would be the cornerstone of the command’s strategy.

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He directed sustained training and retraining of officers in intelligence gathering, investigations, crime mapping, crime prevention, human rights, electoral laws and emotional intelligence.

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The CP also emphasised continuous professional development and mentoring to ensure officers were adequately equipped for effective service delivery.

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On community relations, Afolabi urged officers to strengthen collaboration with community stakeholders and sister security agencies, noting that public trust was vital to enhancing security.

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“While officers are expected to be professional and civil in their conduct, such disposition must not be misconstrued as weakness. Officers must remain firm, disciplined, and courageous in the lawful execution of their duties,” he added.

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The commissioner directed strict enforcement of traffic laws across the state, with traffic officers leading in coordination with relevant agencies to ensure compliance and the free flow of traffic.

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He commended the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for efforts to advance development and security and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to collaborating with other security agencies.

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In his closing remarks, Afolabi declared that “Abia State will not serve as a safe haven for criminal elements” and assured residents of intensified, intelligence-driven policing aimed at combating crime and strengthening public confidence.

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A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, stated that the meeting was attended by area commanders, divisional police officers, heads of departments and commanders of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU.

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