The new Commissioner of Police for Anambra State, John Abang, said that his main focus is to eradicate cultism, armed robbery and other forms of violent crimes in the state.

In his maiden press conference at the police Command in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area on Thursday, Mr. Abang also listed ‘one chance’ gangs, crisis resulting from land tussle and even dissemination of fake news as red flags the Command will not tolerate.

Abang warned purveyors of fake news through whatever means to desist henceforth or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

He said: “Fake news has the capacity to cause widespread disaffection, chaos, violence or disruption of the public peace. May I use this medium to warn the purveyors of such news through whatever means to desist henceforth; or face the full wrath of the law whenever they are apprehended.

“I have been fully briefed on a few criminal and security challenges in the state at the moment. These include disputes over land, the menace of one chance robbery gangs, robbery, kidnapping and of course cultism.

“In keeping with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to ‘make Nigeria safer and more secure for economic development and growth’, the Command under my watch shall take a zero-tolerance stance on crime.

“Therefore, all our efforts and energies shall be mobilised and deployed towards the prevention of crimes; and the successful apprehension of criminals that would test our resolve. The Command shall reinvigorate Operation Puff Adder and give it more bite to tackle cultism, robbery and kidnapping particularly.”

Abang called on officers and men of the Command to brace up for the task ahead, saying: “My advice to cultists, robbers and kidnappers is for them to have a rethink and purge themselves or relocate away from the state.”

On the issue of crisis resulting from land tussle, Abang said efforts would be made to employ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies and Community Policing Principles where applicable and germane to resolve specific problems and issues.

Update news