FEATURES: Orutugu Anambra New Sheriff In Town

 

FEATURES: Orutugu Anambra New Sheriff In Town.

BY NKIRU NWAGBO 

Barely one week ago Anambra State received a new police Commissioner Mr Orutugu Ikioye who was the commissioner in charge of Anti-Terrorism force headquarters Abuja.

Orutugu who is the 35th Police commissioner in Anambra State took over from Itam who had been in office for eight months.

On assumption of office, his first port of call was Nnewi commercial town at the home of the couple that lost three children found inside a freezer.

The newly posted Commissioner affirmed that the killers of the three siblings at Nnewi in Nnewi North local government area live among the neighborhood vowing to unmask them in due time.

Orutugu who visited the scene of the incident less than two hours after he had reported to office at the Command in Awka noted that under his watch crimes and criminality would be checkmated to it's lowest level warning that the Command would not compromise with the security architecture of the state .

In his words "We are here today on a spot assessment of the unfortunate incident of the murder of three siblings and kept in the fridge here in Nnewi"

 "I am also here to console the family/relatives of the victims and to reiterate the commitment of the Anambra State Police Command over this unwholesome crime, unlike other similar incidents recorded in the State which bordered on kidnapping of individuals and sudden disappearance of persons.

" We shall unravel the circumstances surrounding such and ensure that the suspects are arrested and justice served"

Undoubtedly, the Command has been bold in confronting these challenges and indeed recorded several successes lately in curbing some of these crimes"

 "I have been briefed on how Ndi Anambra and the State Government through the launch of _Operation Udo Ga Chi__ have risen to collectively and joined voices in condemning any act that threatens our national peace and has resolved to work together and discuss those issues that tear us apart, not minding our differences"

"To support this move, the Command under my watch shall take every professional step in crime prevention to enhance crime-fighting strategies through strategic deployment of our intelligence assets and robust synergy with sister security agencies, organized vigilante groups and other stakeholders"

"I urge the good people of Anambra State to remain law-abiding, vigilant and to continue to partner and support the Police and other security agencies, towards combating all forms of criminality as well as ensuring public security and safety in the State"

"For those who have been misled to take to crime, you are warned to retrace your steps as the command is poised to deal squarely with all acts of criminality without regard for status. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine"he said.

The Commissioner who had taken over at the peak of the fight against criminality launched himself into the battle when officers and men of the command arrested three suspects in connection with the abduction of ten children who were set to be trafficked outside the state.

The CP reiterated his commitment to tackling crime noting that the three suspects are currently assisting the police in its investigation.

He also said that the children have been handed over to the Anambra State government for intensive medical attention and rehabilitation.

"I am pleased to address you and Ndi Anambra today on yet another breakthrough in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and combating human trafficking in the state,

"Police operatives attached to the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters, acting on intelligence-led information, arrested Mr. Odinakachukwu Okorie (M), Ifunanya Ogbonna (F), and a fake medical doctor, Mr. Daniel Ikebuilo (M), on 15/2/2025. They rescued ten malnourished children in an apartment in Inland Town, Onitsha."

"The Divisional Police Headquarters had been monitoring one of the alleged suspects, Odinakachukwu, after receiving a report on 28/07/2024 about a missing 6-year-old boy in the neighborhood."

"The operatives, having gathered enough evidence, quickly arrested Odinakachukwu Okorie after receiving a second complaint on 13/2/2025 about a missing 5-year-old girl in the same area."

"During interrogation, the suspect mentioned Ifunanya as part of the child-stealing syndicate."

"Further revelations led to the rescue of both children earlier reported missing and the arrest of Mr. Daniel Ikebuilo (the fake doctor). Before their arrest, Odinakachukwu and Ifunanya confessed to planning to flee with the 5-year-old girl to Abuja."

"Ifunanya also confessed to having sold the child for one million Naira (N1,000,000) to Mr. Daniel."

"Continuing with their investigation, the police operatives rescued eight other children in an apartment in Inland Town, Onitsha."

"In light of these developments, the Command has sought the assistance of the Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to provide custody, medical attention, and care for the children to help them recover from their ordeal."

"This achievement highlights the importance of community-police collaboration and intelligence gathering in combating child trafficking."

"Lastly, the Command calls on anyone who is searching for their child to come to the Anambra State Police Command for the necessary action and possible reunion with their parents," he added.

Orutugu further noted that while the Command is battering criminality, the members of the general public should also joined hands through providing relevant information about suspected presence of strangers noting that the fight is a collective responsibility.

In a bid to checkmating the activities of gunmen in Anambra State Orutugu popularly known as the Lion stated that the command would partner with other sisters Agency to arrest such incidents in future.

"It is our collective responsibility to fight insecurity in the state and we shall work with other sisters security Organizations to checkmate the activities of miscreants especially the gunmen.

"I urge members of the public to assist security Operatives in fishing out people with suspected characters in the society and I promise them of the confidentiality of the information bearer he said

Consequent upon this move Orutugu mobilized and deployed officers and men of the command on a special patrol of markets and towns in the state during the Monday sit at home.

At some markets, traders came out to open their shops because of the confidence building that the new police Commissioner has installed in them.

Speaking at one of the markets  during the Anti sit at home patrol the commissioner  took time to interface with traders who were emboldened by the presence of the Commissioner and security operatives.

Speaking at Ekeh Awka Market Orutugu noted that; 

"As you can see people are desirous of opening their shops and doing business because that is their only means of livelihood"

"Anambra is known for trade commerce and industry and you cannot stop them from doing that and that is why we must end this anti economic impact on our people "

"One wonders  why some people in the guise of whatever would go about frustrating the businesses of their brothers and sisters through the enforcement of Sit At Home" 

"Just look around and you can see that shops are open for business and that is what it should be and we as a Command has put measures in place to see to it that this Sit At Home Order must end and very quickly too" 

Orutugu further contended that ; 

"This is Nigeria and the Constitution of this country makes room for freedom of lawful Assembly and freedom of lawful trade and no one has the right to stop a fellow Nigeria from doing business "

"This is just the beginning of the end of this Sit At Home Order and officers and men are battle ready to confront any person or group of persons trying to molest or victimize a fellow Nigerian in the name of Sit At Home " he said.

For thirty fifth  Police Commissioner Orutugu, it is a new dawn for policing in Anambra state having served as the Police Commissioner in charge of Counter Terrorism Force Headquarters Abuja .

He had also made exploits during the Ife - Modakeke communal clashes and had worked in various capacities in battling banditry across the country.

Apparently he is expected to put these records to bare in ensuring that the Monday Sit At Home Order is put to rest in Anambra state.

However , the early performance of new Anambra Police Commissioner is indeed a pointer to the fact that a new Sheriff is in the town and paints the picture that crime fighting in Anambra State would surely move to another level.