From Idu Jude, Abuja
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has directed security personnel to root out criminal elements across the state, with a particular focus on Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA), where terrorist attacks have led to numerous killings.
On Saturday, May 10, Enugu State Police Commissioner CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa led a robust security patrol through Nimbo, Opanda, Adani, Ogurugu, and Nkpologu communities in Uzo-Uwani to demonstrate force and restore confidence.
SP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State Command, stated that the patrol aimed to reassure rural residents, deter crime, and enhance coordination among security agencies.
The patrol was aimed at boosting the confidence of rural residents, deterring criminal activities, and strengthening synergy among security agencies operating in the area, Ndukwe said in a statement released to reporters in Enugu over the weekend.
During the operation, CP Giwa visited the temporary and permanent sites of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Madueke in Uzo-Uwani. Commodore A.O. Odejobi, Commander of the Naval Base, welcomed Giwa and joined the patrol, accompanied by Hon. Ezugwu Chijioke, Executive Chairman of Uzo-Uwani LGA, who guided them through the facilities.
CP Giwa reaffirmed the resolve of the police and other security agencies to intensify collaborative efforts in tackling criminal elements, particularly those involved in violent crimes, Ndukwe noted.
The patrol included senior officers such as DCP Gregory Itobore, Head of the Command’s Operations Department; ACP Idowu Azeez Moroof, Commanding Officer, No. 3 PMF, Enugu; ACP Oyewole Kehinde Suraju, Head of the State Intelligence Department; and ACP Stephen Gudu, Nsukka Area Commander.
Governor Mbah’s directive and the patrol are part of efforts to secure Uzo-Uwani, known as Enugu’s food basket, from terrorists posing as herders. These actions aim to restore safety and protect the region’s agricultural productivity.