In view of the prevailing peace existing in Abia, Abians have continued to raise thumbs up for the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali and Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu over the choice of AIG Etim Eneh Okon for Police Zone 9, Umuahia.
AIG Okon was the immediate past Commissioner of Police in Abia until he was re-deployed to Force Headquarters and later promoted to AIG in charge of Zone 12, Bauchi.
During his stay in Abia, the state knew peace which had before then eluded the state.
Speaking after a courtesy call on him, the chairman, Hotel Welfare Ezekwesiri Onuegbu thanked the IGP for showing love to Abia people and “indeed, the three states of Abia, Imo and Ebonyi” through the posting of AIG Okon to “a terrain he knows very well”.
“We are happy he came back as a higher officer, AIG. We thank the IGP for posting him and the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu for accepting and accommodating Ene Okon and assured the new AIG of their support and that of Abians.
Also expressing his excitement, the State Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Prime Ministers and the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient kingdom, Uche james Akwukwaegbu extoled the virtues of the IGP, Bala Alkali in giving the best for the state and Police Zone 9, Umuahia.
“The new AIG knows the terrain very well and had done much to sustain the existing peace in the state. Now that he is in charge of the Zone 9, we know he will still deploy his wealth of experience to curtail criminal activities in Zone 9, particularly, Abia”, Akwukwaegbu said.
He used the opportunity to call on the IGP and the Abia State Government to ensure they assist AIG Ene Okon with the necessary materials and logistics to work with.
For the President General, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, Goodluck Ibem, “the posting of AIG Okon by the IGP Alkali is a right step in the right direction”.
According to him, “AIG Okon will replicate in the entire zone what he did as Abia State Commissioner of Police that made Abia State peaceful”.
“Under him, development returned to Abia, particularly Aba”, he said and thanked Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for allowing the return of AIG Okon to the state.
An Ohafia resident, Agwu Agwu regretted any attempt to tag the invasion of Umuahia by the military and subsequent killing of IPOB members to AIG Okon.
Agwu said, “to my knowledge, Okon was not in the state during the military Python Dance that killed many Abians in 2017.
“He came in as the Abia CP in February 11, in 2019. Everything that happened in the state was before he came. One CP Leye, and later CP Ogbizi were there before he came. He was not privy to what happened.
“Any attempt to tag him to that incident is not justified and misdirected”, Agwu concluded.
According to the chairman, Police Public Relations Committee, PCRC Collins Obi, “The IGP in his wisdom knows that this is the terrain AIG Okon knows very well. Okon is wonderful and is a professional guru who will bring his professionalism to bear in his job as the AIG Zone 9, Umuahia”.
“Thank you, the IGP”, he said.
Meanwhile the AIG Zone 9 has called on the people of the zone to expose criminals in their mist through viable information to the police.
According to the Zonal PPRO, Janet Egwu in her “Zone 9 Umuahia Police Diary, the AIG had assured the people of the zone of safety of lives and property.
