By CHARLES IWUOHA

The South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA) has commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammad Adamu, for instilling professionalism and discipline among police personnel in the enforcement of COVID-19 lockdown measures.

SEAMATA is the umbrella union of traders in all the markets in the South-East geo-political zone and traders of South-East extraction doing business in all the states of the federation.

This was contained in a commendation letter sent to the IGP, which was signed by the association’s President-General, Chief Gozie Akudolu, and its Secretary-General, Mr. Alex Okwudiri, on Tuesday in Enugu.

It said that SEAMATA had been following with keen interest the IG’s uncompromising position in total implementation of all government and

health authorities’ directives in the control of COVID-19 pandemic to the latter even in the face of obvious challenges.

The statement said: “Your very prompt and proactive response by summarily and timely dealing with some trigger-happy officers of the force that recklessly killed innocent and defenceless citizens. And the others that shamelessly engaged in flagrant abuse of the fundamental rights of the citizens during this lock down, at various places across the country, had in no small measures, acted as a deterrent to the rank and file of the force.

“These actions have restored confidence and trust of the citizens on the force. Your constant and physical monitoring of the citizens and police compliance to the directives of authorities on the control of this pandemic, spanning into very late in the night, is a clear manifestation of leadership by example and did not go unnoticed.”

It also pointed out the great damage which the activities of some officers deployed at state boundaries are doing to the public image of the force, which the IGP had been working very hard to improve.

“Some of these officers engage in the collection of monetary inducement from drivers and commuters and allow them passage, even when the government had ordered a ban on inter-state movements.

“The activities of these unpatriotic officers, which is reported in both print and electronic media, is not only worrisome, but seriously undermine the efforts of the government and the police to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 disease across the states.

“We understand that the force is monitoring the operations of their men across all commands and formations; and most respectfully suggest that you set up a team of the I-G's monitors to monitor the officers at the state boundaries and their monitors.

“The offending officers should also be dealt with summarily the way their trigger-happy colleagues were dealt with,” it said.

The statement also lauded the leadership of the force in the zone for their efforts, adding that Anambra Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abang, was doing exceptionally well and traders in the state had nicknamed him ‘the Crime Buster,’ adding that his zero tolerance to crime and criminality in all ramifications, and his prompt response to reports had helped in making Anambra State not only the safest in crime but also in COVID-19 disease directives compliance.

“We spotted him recently at the Niger Bridge-Head border between Anambra and Delta states, by 3am enforcing directives of the government and we are overwhelmed that a commissioner was keeping awake for the citizens to sleep with their two eyes closed,” the statement said.

It also commended what it described as the outstanding performance of Mr. Sunday Irek, Police Area Commander of Nnewi and Mr. Nnamdi Anabike, the DPO of Central Police

Station, Nnewi, for turning commercial/industrial town of Nnewi to ‘Bermuda Triangle’’ for criminals especially armed motorcycle snatchers.

“While we commend the IG and his gallant team in their achievements so far, we wish to remind you that in every good situation, there is always room for improvement as getting to the top is always easier than staying at the top.

“We therefore appeal that you keep the heat continuously steady in order to remain on the top,” the association added.

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