By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu – The Enugu State Police Command says it will continue to use sports to unite and create synergy with sister security agencies in the state.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, said this on Saturday after the October edition of the command’s sporting exercise, tagged: “Jog/Walk for Life and Agility’’.
Danmallam, who was represented by the Command’s Sports Officer, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said that the exercise had afforded personnel of various security agencies to interact and know one another better.
He noted that the synergy had been able to bring crime to its barest minimum; adding that it had made the state the safest in the country.
“The command will continue to incorporate sister security agencies in its activities to create oneness among personnel of security agencies in the state.
“The command will also make sure that apart from the monthly exercise, sister security agencies will be carried along in other sports and social functions of the police.
“This is just as we are already doing joint patrols and collaboration at security duty levels,’’ he said.
An Assistant Superintendent of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), Mr Williams Dauda, who participated in the exercise, said the exercise was also meant to keep security personnel fit and alert to their duties.
“As you can see, we are lighter now after the exercise session, and this will keep the body fit and enhance the mental alertness to confront our security duties,’’ Dauda said.
Assistant Superintendent Akanne Kizito, of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said the police and the NSCDC had cordial and harmonious working relationship in the five-year existence of the exercise.
“It is better we work as one since we all work for the Federal Government, as well as serve the same people, which is the good people of Nigeria living in Enugu state,’’ Kizito said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 850 policemen, personnel of sister security agencies as well as staff of corporate bodies, including NAN, participated in the exercise.
NAN reports that the exercise started at the police command headquarters with warm-up exercises; while the walk/jog session took the participants through Ridge Road, Okpara Avenue, Ogbete Road, Akwata Road and Zik Avenue.
The walk/jog session later terminated at the Superior Police Officers’ Mess field in Agbani Road for warm-down exercises.