The actions of Mr. Galadanchi within this short period of time have justified his value for his profession and position
Nathan Uzorma Protus
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 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 here 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 greases and lubricates the wheel of peaceful coexistence and sustainable growth and development of any society. Its absence in the system equates it with lawlessness, pandemonium 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. Dasuki Galadanchi upon assumption of office rolled out his active and proactive action plans to tackle crime in order to build safer, stronger and healthier communities. The state police lord, who in his appearance is humorous but works like an active lion in the field, appears not to be joking at all.
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It is on record that Mr. Dasuki took over from Mr. Chris Ezike few months ago in 2018. The way and manner he came into Imo left many with uncertainty on his position to deal with the peculiar crime nature in Imo. He was called Owelle Rochas CP which made some renowned critics like me to watch with two eyes open. He has shown that he is not in Imo to do the bidding of the State Chief Executive hence this article. 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.
The command under the good 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. 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”. It has been proven beyond every human reasonable doubt that the actions of Mr. Galadanchi within this short period of time have justified his value for his profession and position. He is a silent achiever and one who is not interested in following crime and criminality with docility while putting on his humorous propensity and proclivity.
From the foregoing, it becomes evident that action that is intertwined 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.
Those in Imo State will attest to the fact that the rate of assassination, arm robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, cyber crimes (yahoo-yahoo) and other crime related activities are high so much that it requires a man of valor to curb the situation. Mr. Galadanchi is equal to the situation as he employs uncommon methods in crime fighting which has enabled men in Imo police command to fish out criminals immediately crimes are committed no matter their hideouts. The nature of crime and criminality in Imo is not beyond the Police lord as he has shown competent cum proficiency in dealing with some visible issues.
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In his maiden press conference the state police boss observed that ever since he assumed office, he was able to spend time to appraise himself on some peculiarities of the Command. There is an understanding of the nature of crime and criminality in the Command, and their impact on safety and security. As the heartland of the South East geopolitical 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, the police boss was delighted to inform Imolites of his readiness in dealing with the situation. He has initiated some viable programmes that are aimed at checking the menace of criminals. In line with his proactive philosophy in dealing with crimes, the police boss has devised new and robust strategies to checkmate the activities of criminals in the state by expanding Area Commands in Imo State.
This new measure adopted by Mr. Dasuki has to a large extent reduced the rate of kidnapping in Imo state. The Command has increased police visibility on streets and highways even though the CP is against extortion and has as a result disciplined many police officers who are found in one corrupt practice or the other. He has as well embarked on a serious neighborhood policing, a method that appears to be working unimaginably well. Sporadic and organized raids have been carried out to dislodge criminals and kidnappers from their hideouts, demolish their structures, and to frustrate their evil intentions. Police response time to distress calls has significantly improved. Even the bad eggs in the police are afraid of the presence of Mr. Dasuki, who they regard as a simple but “hard CP who does not believe in making returns”
From the above expressions of some policemen concerning the state Police boss, one can infer that the new police philosophy is now zero tolerance to corruption. But can the Nigeria police be corrupt free? I doubt! But there are good ones. The Commissioner of police in his new policies in making sure that people are not unlawfully detained, has resurrected a 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. His new concept of community policing is working well for the state command as it provided communities with tools, knowledge and support to undertake crime prevention initiatives in communities large and small across the state.