The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, has identified ‘order from above: arrest of his people over land related issues, drug abuse and the menace of Yahoo Boys as the major security challenges facing his community.
Asagba Prof Azinge, who was speaking when the Inspector -General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, paid him a courtesy visit, said the issues had become sources of concern to him and the people of Asaba in general.
He noted that some Asaba indigenes had been arrested for land related cases by operatives from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, without recourse to the established chain of command of the Nigeria Police Force, pointing out that his interventions did not make any difference in such cases.
The Asagba urged the IGP to use his good offices to change the narrative, stressing that arrests and investigations must follow due process of established chain of command and not effected based on ‘order from above’.
The Royal Father said the menace of Yahoo and Yahoo Plus were also giving bad image to Asaba, adding that the community, which happened to be the capital of Delta State, had become synanimous with the activities of Yahoo Boys.
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Obi Prof Azinge expressed concern about the increasing rate of drug abuse in Asaba, which he noted had taken a toll on the productivity of the youths and appealed to the police high command to address the issue with the seriousness it deserved.
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He commended the Nigeria Police Force under the watch of IGP Egbetokun for adopting community policing strategy in the fight against crime and criminality in the country, stressing that it was the way to go to drastically reduce and possibly eliminate crime in the country
Asagba Prof Azinge noted that Asaba was a peaceful community and the people known for their hospitableness, which explained why the state capital had become a safe haven to non indigene and investors.
The highly revered traditional ruler called for a closer collaboration between the police and the traditional institution to make crime fighting and control in the country more effective and pledged the support of the Asagba-in-Council and the Asaba community for the police.
Earlier, Kayode Egbetokun, who is the 22nd indigenous Inspector-General of Police said it was his maiden visit to Asaba since he was appointed IGP in June last year, adding that his visit to the Asagba was for royal blessing and in line with his respect for the traditional institution.
IGP Egbetokun told the Asagba that the Nigeria Police Force had adopted community policing as a strategy for fighting crime and criminality in the country and solicited the support of traditional rulers in that regard.
He congratulated Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge on his emergence as the 14th Asagba of Asaba and assured that the police would partner with him to make his reign peaceful and beneficial to all.
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