IMO CP (MR. ALI MAJID) AND THE CHALLENGE OF FIGHTING CRIME

Permit me today to discuss one major issue that is very imperative to our society- crime. I shall return next week to continue my x-ray on “Metaphysics of Christian Marriage” which is yet to generate the desired controversy. Meanwhile, the topic of today is aimed at encouraging crime fighters (especially the Imo police command) to do better because much is expected of them.

 There are few better measures of the concern a society has for its individual members and its own well being than the way it handles criminals. Yes, the real significance of crime is its being a breach of faith with the community of mankind. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “All crime is a kind of disease and should be treated as such”. For St. Aquinas, “Guns don’t kill people-people kill people…” According to one of the ancient warriors (Bonaparte), “The contagion of crime is like that of the plague. Criminals collected together corrupt each other. They are worse than ever when, at the termination of their punishment, they return to society”.

  The point therefore is that the society is at the receiving end, no matter how criminals function. No wonder crime control has been described as a major ingredient which lubricates the wheel of peaceful co-existence and sustainable growth and development of any society. Its absence in the system equates it with lawlessness and chaos leading to not just the insecurity of lives and property but also to economic and political sabotage.

  The Imo State Police Command under the leadership of the new Commissioner of Police Mr. Ali Majid upon assumption of office few months ago, started by balancing his administration with beautification of Police command. He invoked the spirit of neatness before rolling out his active and proactive action plans to tackle crime in order to build safer, stronger and healthier communities. The state police lord who is interested in restoring the dignity and respect of men of the force is highly focused and conspicuously clothed in the apparel of humility without compromise.

 In just few months in office, the new Commissioner of Police has through his logical and proactive measures shown a great deal of responsibility in the implementation of effective crime control strategies that have worked for the common good of the people of Imo State though not without serious challenges as much is still expected.

The command under the leadership of the new CP has employed effective and cost effective ways to prevent and reduce crime by intervening on the risk factors before crime happens. Its approach has been the promotion and implementation of effective crime prevention practices. I must emphasize here that following my experience, the rate at which the Imo Police responds to distress calls now is very encouraging which authenticates the fact that they are in for action and like Mahatma Gandhi would say, “Action expresses priorities”. Now in accordance with the act of doing G.K Chesterton says, “I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act”. For Cicero the great philosopher, “We should not be so taken up in the search for truth, as to neglect the needful duties of active life; for it is only action that gives a true value and commendation to virtue”.

  From the foregoing, it becomes evident that action that is inter-twined with justice must produce good result. Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. A man’s action is only a picture book of his creed and credo. Brave actions never want a trumpet. Shakespeare infers, “Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing”. Now, in the act of doing, which has resulted to doing it well, the Imo police command is presently working closely with partners and stakeholders in the state and beyond to develop and implement results-driven programs that target specific crime issues in various communities in the state.

 The state Police boss upon assumption of office spent time to apprise himself of some peculiarities of the Command in order to understand the nature of crime and criminality in the Command. As the heartland of the South East geo-political region, it is understandable that Imo State Command has the challenge of kidnapping and other violent crimes, which adversely affect the tone of social and economic life in the state.  However, I am delighted to inform my reader that the on-going programme initiated by the Command is the right step in the right direction aimed at checking the menace of criminals. In line with the philosophy of fighting crime, the police have devised new and robust strategies to checkmate the activities of criminals in the state. The Command has increased police visibility on streets and highways and embarked on an oppressive neighborhood policing. Sporadic and organized raids have been carried out to dislodge criminals from their hideouts. One area that is posing serious challenge is the area of baby factory or what a lay man could call “child stealing or snatching” which the command is dealing with seriously as some major people in the business have been arrested.

 Following the above, one can infer that the new police philosophy is now zero tolerance to corruption. But is it very possible to stop the Nigerian police from extorting money from the public? What about the police ‘religious tithe’ of N50 from commuters? The above is not only peculiar to Imo state; it is a general problem in Nigeria. And it is now on record that the present State police boss is on top of the issue to discipline any culprit. The Commissioner of police in his new policies in making sure that people are not unlawfully detained, has resurrected the Human Right team that reports to him every morning the activities of his men and that of the public. This is aimed at making sure that people’s fundamental rights are not violated.

The administration of the new CP has recorded many cases of foiled armed robbery and that of kidnapping. The suspects were all arrested. I must state here that we have a sound CP who is skilled in administration and field work. It is on record that the new CP is always very busy and most times goes to arrest criminals by himself. His new concept of community policing is working well for the state command. The amazing structural reformation is a thing that has generated many questions, could this be done by a man who has come to stay forever in Imo state or for a moment, Could police man be this neat, is it possible for any police boss to be this humble?

 Recognizing that public safety environment includes a broader set of partners and stakeholder groups, the Command extends its initiative beyond law enforcement to address all information sharing relevant to public safety and security a strategy which must work well for the state. To this effect, the Command can be said to have recorded a huge success in its fight against crime in a short period. Nobody however can run away from the fact that there can never be a crime free society. Nevertheless, the Command has shown great resolve and commitment to the fight against crime.