The Nigeria Police Force has described the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, as the best Police-friendly Governor in Nigeria.

And in recognition of this, the Force, through its Deputy Inspector-General, Valentine Ntomchukwu, presented Umahi with a special plaque at the state Executive Council Chambers, Government House in Abakaliki on Thursday.

Ntomchukwu said: “The Inspector-General, Ibrahim Idris, has asked me to tell you that you are the most Police-friendly Governor in Nigeria and I am not saying it because I am in Ebonyi State. It is because of what I have seen, which you have donefor the State Police Command.

“Honestly, on arrival to the Police Command, I saw streetlight and other things I have never seen in other police command and when I asked they said the Governor did those things for the Command. I can see houses for policemen of rank and file and I can see a storey building also built by the Governor for the command.

“I am going to relay what I have seen to the IGP and maybe he will come one day and see for himself the wonders you are doing in terms of infrastructural development.”

Ntomchukwu also lauded Umahi for the communication equipment he “provided for the Command and the ongoing renovation of the perimeter fencing and security post of the Command Headquarters, which have lifted the status of the Command.”

He thereafter went ahead to, on behalf of the IGP, present a special plaque to the Governor.

“Sir, find anywhere in your office and place this plaque so that any time you turn around, you will look at it as a mark of honour and appreciation of your support to the police,” the DIG admonished Umahi.

He told the Governor that prior to the outcome of the findings in respect of the communal clashes between Ebonyi and Cross River states, a new Police Squadron would be established as a buffer to forestall further loss of lives and property in the area.

He said: “We have been able to identify some peculiar security challenges you are having in the area of communal clash between some borderline communities between Ebonyi and Cross River.

“We have noted some of the reasons why historically it happened. There are practical steps we can take to curtail loss of lives and property. We are already thinking of establishing buffer police station in that area in form of a new mobile squadron.”

Responding, Governor Umahi announced that plans were underway to empower Police Officers Wives as well as the wives of other security personnel in the state to motivate their husbands to work more efficiently.

While he requested that Policemen posted to state should be allowed to stay for much more than two years, the Governor appealed for the deployment of 10 Mobile Policemen to man the exit points of the state day and night with the aid of CCTV.

Umahi added: “We’re trying to man all our exit points and we need your manpower support. We want to have a small base by each of the exit junctions and then we use CCTV to see what happens 300 metres along the road. Every base will be powered by solar light. So, we’re starting the Pilot Scheme but we have shortage of manpower.”

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