By PETER OKOLIE

The Imo Police Command, on Friday, inaugurated a state-of-the-art detention facility for its Anti-Kidnapping Unit, also known as the Tiger Base, designed to enhance the unit’s operational capacity.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Hope Uzodimma, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Nnamdi Anyaehie, said “the story of Imo Police Command is intriguing and compelling”.

Uzodimma commended the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, for the crime reduction in the state, and also thanked the Tiger Base Commander, DSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, for “creating a decent environment within the unit”.

“The government is determined to ensure that residents sleep with their eyes closed.

“As a government, we will continue to support the command, especially the wellbeing of serving officers and family of deceased personnel,” the governor said.

He charged the command to sustain the onslaught against kidnappers and other violent criminals in the state.

In a remark, Danjuma described the unit as the “striking force” of the command, saying that the unit had sacrificed a lot to protect lives and property in the state.

According to him, the sit-at-home by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra has become a thing of the past.

“In Okigwe zone, the unit spent five weeks in the forests battling criminals and spent over seven weeks fighting hoodlums in the forest of Ukwuoji and neighbouring communities.

“We are now employing different tactics of picking the runaway criminals in their homes,” he said.

Danjuma, who admitted that personnel of the anti-kidnapping unit sometimes overstepped their bounds, urged them to operate within the confines of the law.

“Stick to your core function. Avoid civil cases and restrain yourselves from harassing members of the public.

“The command will not tolerate or support unprofessionalism.

“We can’t just arrest and keep suspects without informing their families or charging them to court,” he said.

The police boss, while commending the governor for sponsoring the construction of the infrastructure, said it was built to decongest detainees under investigation.

He urged criminals to lay down their arms and embrace the amnesty offered by the State Government or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

In a goodwill message, the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ifeoma Agugwa, represented by Mr Godswill Ndubuisi, lauded the infrastructure development within the anti-kidnapping facility.

Agugwa extolled the sacrifices paid by personnel of the unit, saying “they have done exceptionally well as the striking force of the command in restoring peace in the state.”

“We appreciate the Nigeria Police Force and officers for putting out their lives in the forests fighting criminals to protect lives and property of law abiding citizens,” she said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr Chris Ihentuge, commended the governor for his interest in security, saying the anxiety over insecurity had reduced drastically in the state.

Ihentuge commended the establishment of a human rights desk at the anti-kidnapping unit, saying it would go a long to ensure that rights of suspects were protected.

“Tiger Base is working to fight insecurity, but most at times, they over step their bounds, venturing into civil cases,” he said, urging them to retrace their steps.

“We are happy with Tiger Base and what they are doing to secure the lives and property of Imo residents,” he said. (NAN, but headline rejigged)