Area Commander of the Nigerian Police, Aba Area Command, SP Peter Wagbara has solicited adequate manpower to keep the city secured. He made this appeal yesterday during the visit of the Abia State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu to the Command.
Wagbara said in his address of welcome that, “the command which has 16
Divisions and 1, 492 personnel was in dire need of personnel to support its work which requires adequate manpower to keep the city secured.”
He urged the CP to assist them with patrol vehicles which were in short supply in the zone as many divisions lacked vehicles to work with.
He also urged the CP to make a case for their accommodation gutted by fire sometimes ago which would gulp about N12.47 million to renovate with the IGP for assistance to ensure his men do not continue living in shanties, adding that the command had renovated some offices and is building a new office block with four rooms and three toilets.
In response, Adamu said he would do what was within his powers to ensure that the commands under him functioned as is required of them for optimum performance.
The CP praised the Aba Area Command for “kicking out kidnapping, child stealing and robbery ”from the zone stressing that they needed to sustain the fight against crime in the city in order not to return to the dangerous times.
He said he was happy that the crime of kidnapping for which Aba was known for in the past had been rested, adding that residents of the city now sleep with two eyes closed.
“I am here to thank everyone in Aba area command. When I arrived in Abia State, there were cases of kidnapping, robbery and child stealing. But I am proud of you today because there is no more kidnapping, no robbery and child stealing in Aba area command.
“Child stealing was one of the rampant crimes in Aba area command but today, we only hear of child stealing from people passing from one side of the country to another.
“But being in between some states, we intercept them within the command but within the Aba area command, child stealing is now history.
“Thank you for your efforts and for all the diligence you have shown. Anybody who comes to Aba area command, what comes to his mind was kidnapping but your efforts has rested that case. It is no longer here,” he said.
He said that state police force were not relenting in fighting crime hence they have made all preparations to keep Aba and the entire state safe through the remaining months of the year.