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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Traders in Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have honoured the Area Commander of Onitsha Area Command, ACP Fasugba Temitope, for effectively policing the market and its environs.
The traders presented an award during the recent visit of the Area Commander to the Onitsha Main Market Division of the Nigeria Police Force on a maiden familiarisation tour.
Presenting the award, chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Hon. Chijioke Okpalaugo, thanked the Area Commander, as well as the DPO of Main Market Division, ASP Joy Ikpeama, for their numerous efforts in effectively combating crime and criminal activities in the market and its environs.
While blaming increasing crimes and criminal activities in the area on drug abuse among young people, the market leader called on the police to take the issue of drug abuse seriously. He promised that traders will make police work easier in the area by supplying information, and appealed to police authorities to ensure that they keep the identities of whistle blowers confidential.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Onitsha Main Market Division, CSP Joy Ikpeama, expressed worry that her division lacks adequate personnel to police the market which is regarded as the biggest in West Africa.
The DPO said the division is lagging behind in so many areas of responsibilities because it lacked some of the things befitting of a full-fledged police station.
“The Main Market Division, having jurisdiction of the largest market in West Africa, among other markets, has only 38 personnel to police her jurisdiction,” she complained.
“The Main Market Division, before it got burnt, still maintained same offices that was allocated to the Police Post when it was under the Central Police Station (CPS) Onitsha, and as a result, lacks so many offices like Charge Room, Armoury, DCB office, MTD office, Surveillance office, Exhibit office, among others befitting of a Divisional Police Headquarters.”
She appealed to the Area Commander to use his good office to assist the division with more personnel, especially members of the rank and file, to assist in policing their areas of responsibilities effectively.
CSP Ikpeama also urged the Area Commander to prevail on the Anambra State government to release the other parts of the first floor of the burnt Onitsha North LGA building to the Nigeria Police Force, Main Market Division, so as to accommodate other offices for effective and more efficient policing of the area.
In his response, the Onitsha Area Commander, ACP Fasugba Temitope, thanked traders in Onitsha Main Market for recognising and appreciating what the police are doing in the area. He thanked them for the award presented to him, assuring that it will inspire him to put more effort into the job he is doing.
The Area Commander also thanked the DPO and other personnel of the Main Market Division for effective policing of the area, despite shortage of personnel. He, however, called for synergy among federal, state, and local government area security agencies for better policing of Onitsha Main Market and its environs.
While also pleading with residents to always give useful information that would help police do their work, the police boss asked residents to stop resisting arrest whenever their presence in the police station is demanded; so that the relationship between the police and the general public will not continue to deteriorate.
The event, which took place at the conference hall of the “White House,” Main Market, Onitsha, attracted many police personnel, members of the PCRC, Onitsha market traders, among other dignitaries.
