Anambra State commissioner of police, CP Echeng Echeng has assured residents of the state of his Command’s readiness to ensure a safe environment.
Echeng disclosed this via in a Statement signed by DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer on Tuesday.
According to him, the protection of lives and property would be his priority during the Christmas and New year celebrations.
He said adequate deployment of logistics and men had been made on roads and residential areas.
“To this end therefore, the CP has ordered the deployment of officers and men comprising conventional police, traffic warders and other tactical teams of the Command as well as necessary logistics.
“This deployments are to all major highways, residential areas, places of worship and places of public resort, also the personnel deployed for this critical assignment are under strict instruction to be civil and professional,” he said.
Echeng, who charged the officers to be firm in the discharge of their duties, noted that the Command is in partnership with sister security agencies and all critical stakeholders to ensure that the celebration is peaceful and hitch-free.
He advised motorists to always obey traffic rules and reiterate that the ban on the use of fireworks, knockouts and other explosives during festivities is still in force.
According to him, fireworks were both nuisance and disturbance to public peace and safety, and are also capable of causing unnecessary fear and apprehension, in addition to the possibility of providing an escape space for criminals after the commission of a crime.
“Command is prepared to deal with hoodlums and other disgruntled elements that may attempt to cause breakdown of law and order before, during and after the festive period,” he said.
Echeng extended his warm greetings to Christian faithful and other citizens in the state, as they celebrate Christmas and New Year and enjoined them to be vigilant and security conscious.