Anambra police boss calls meeting over Onitsha shooting incident

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnanna Ama, has called for a meeting with the area commander and all divisional police officers (DPOs) in Onitsha. This meeting is about a shooting incident that happened at a market in Onitsha.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesman in Anambra State, shared this in a statement on Thursday.

Earlier reports said there was chaos at the River Niger Head Bridge in Onitsha on Wednesday afternoon. Police shot two traders at the bridge head market during an attempt to arrest them.

The Meeting

In the statement on Thursday, Mr Ikenga, who is a superintendent of police, said the meeting is part of the commissioner’s efforts to improve supervision, accountability and professionalism in the police force, especially in Onitsha. Onitsha is one of the key commercial areas in the state.

“During the meeting, CP Nnanna told the DPOs to give detailed briefings on security issues and police activities in their areas. He emphasized the importance of taking steps to prevent unprofessional behavior by their officers,” he said.

The commissioner made it clear that any police officer who misuses their powers or behaves in ways that do not meet the standards of the Nigeria Police Force will face disciplinary action as per the rules.

The spokesman added that the police chief reminded everyone of his strict stance against unprofessional conduct. He said no one in the police force should damage the trust the public has in them.

Mr Ama also told the DPOs to improve internal supervision, keep effective command and control, and make sure they follow professional standards. He urged them to quickly address real complaints from residents, traders, and business owners in their areas.

The commissioner assured Onitsha residents and the entire state that the police command is dedicated to providing effective and accountable policing that serves the people.

He encouraged the public to report any security issues or genuine complaints through the right channels, including the police commissioner’s dedicated phone line.

The police chief promised that all credible complaints would be taken seriously and investigated properly.