CP Ama during his press briefing
By Ejike Agbata
The new Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has assumed duty with a pledge to strengthen intelligence-led policing, deepen community engagement and tackle extortion within the ranks of the police.
Oji Ama, who addressed journalists for the first time since taking over the command, also announced that the police would bear the full medical expenses of the surviving child in the recent Ideani incident, in which three children died after being found unconscious.
He described the deaths as tragic and said the command would ensure that the circumstances surrounding the incident were thoroughly investigated.
“Our immediate priority is to see to the child’s recovery,” the CP said, assuring Ndi Anambra that the investigation would be handled professionally.
On his policing agenda, Oji Ama said he would combine traditional policing with digital technology and stronger intelligence gathering to prevent and investigate crime.
But perhaps his strongest message was directed at police officers allegedly involved in extortion.
The new CP said he had already issued directives against extortion on major highways and at police stations, declaring that the command was working towards a “zero extortion” policy.
“Mark my words. I’m not joking about it,” he told journalists. “We are going to implement it. In short, we have started to implement it.”
He acknowledged that changing an entrenched practice would not happen overnight but insisted that the command would steadily work to eliminate it.
According to him, restoring public confidence would be central to his administration because “if the people don’t trust you, there’s nothing you can do.”
He said policing could not succeed without the cooperation of residents, urging communities to become partners in shaping security strategies.
“We want you to be co-owners of police strategies,” he said, stressing that the command’s approach would be taken down to the grassroots.
Oji Ama also promised to strengthen collaboration with other security agencies, vigilante groups, community leaders and the media, while ensuring that police operations are fair and accountable.
He introduced the idea of procedural justice, saying citizens should be able to look at police actions and conclude that they were treated fairly.
The CP further called on journalists to support the security architecture through factual and responsible reporting, particularly during periods of heightened tension.
“Our strategy is to get it down to the grassroots,” he said, adding that the police alone could not secure the state.
