By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa
Owerri – The new Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Chris Ezike, has called for synergy among security agencies to enable them rid the state of criminals and criminality.
The commissioner made the call in Owerri on Thursday, when he visited the Comptroller of Immigration in the state, Mrs Nneka Uchendu.
Ezike said the essence of his visit to immigration and other security agencies was to strengthen inter agency collaboration, cooperation and coordination to enable the two security organisations combat crime effectively.
The commissioner said intelligent security report showed that about 70 per cent of cultists in the state were students in various tertiary institutions of the state.
The police boss further said 30 per cent of belonged to people other than students.
The commissioner, who expressed zero tolerance for cultism, promised to introduce ‘’Carrot and Stick’’ measure in tackling cultism in the state.
“These are young, promising youths and we will try our best to see that we make them denounce cultism.
“We will use carrot on those who want to denounce, but use stick on those who want to remain in the game,” he said.
The Police commissioner disclosed that plans were on to set up engagement committees in all the 27 local government areas of the state.
Ezike said the committee would comprise of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Transition Committee Chairmen of local government areas, Immigration officers and traditional rulers.
Responding, the Comptroller of Immigration, Uchendu, assured Ezike of maximum cooperation of the service.
“We will give the police all the necessary support it needed from us to combat crime in the state.
“Security is not a one man affair and I believe that all the sister agencies have to collaborate to achieve a common goal,” she said.
Uchenndu commended the Police boss for his efforts aimed at strengthening inter agency cooperation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Ezike also visited State Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Abdomomini Adbullahi, the Controller of Prisons Service Mr Chris Okoye among others.
