The commissioner of police Anambra State Command, CP Orutugu Livingston Ikioye (PhD) on his journey so far in Anambra state, counting his success and achievement in the fight against criminality.
In an interview with The Forward News Media , The CP says enough is enough, Anambra State is safe.
Excepts:
The Commissioner of police, Anambra State Police Command. CP Orutugu Livingston Ikioye (PhD) with The Forward News Media during an interview session in his office in Anambra State.
Let’s talk about your profile?
It is not that I have elder brother or somebody I’m looking up to because I’m a successful police man , when I finish my university education, I was to join banking industry, because I came from a community where banking job is invoked.
My father was also a banker, but I decided not to take the line of banking, for that, I was seen as unproductive fellow. I came from a community when you finished school you will be asked to go to a particular house to drop your name and you will be posted to one of these new generations banks and on my side I don’t want to do it
I told my parents that I don’t want to count money that is not for me. I want to change the narrative by becoming a police officer or journalist. So I went to Nigerian Institute of journalism, where I got my post graduate diploma and worked briefly with The Tide Newspaper in Rivers State before I joined The Nigeria Police.
I’m very emotional for this award presented to me today from The Forward News Media, I respect women and I tried to respect women because 95% of my fulfilled life was influenced by women.
In my marriage, God gave me five children, four girls and a boy. I have seven grandchildren, and I was so lucky that at the age 21, 22, two of my daughters got married one day in my house and today they are successfully in the their husbands house. So women influenced me a lot.
Going down on security wise, in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra state, Professor Charles Soludo the governor of Anambra state told me that during his first tenure campaign, he couldn’t go to Ihiala Local Government that the fear of Ihiala is the beginning of wisdom, then I moved into action and this year campaign for his second tenure. Professor Charles Soludo went to Ihiala to campaign with no fear and today Ihiala is free in crime and I went back to them and told them battle is over.
The Commissioner of police, Anambra State Police Command. CP Orutugu Livingston Ikioye (PhD) Recieving a Meritorious Service honour from the Publisher of The Forward News Media, Comrade Vivien Okafor
However, I thank God for The Forward News, ruled by women because if woman curse you, it will not be easy for you but if they bless you, you remain blessed. So I can not take women for granted.
In Anambra state, a lot of blood has been shed and if you are to take statistics of officers that lost their lives, may be 10 of them, 8 will be from Igbos. Fighting a battle and the same time killing your brothers is very bad. During the last election we were preaching don’t kill and they listened and we had a better election result.
As at Match 2022, we have heard of attacks and crisis eg a case of eight LGAs were literally under siege, taken over by criminals, hoodlums in various camp set and so on which previously escalated in Anambra state, And over nine months you assumed office, we have observed the reduction of insecurity and other crimes or casualties has been brought down to it barest minimum. What was the protocols, emergencies, plans and interagency strategies you and your officers executed?
I was the first Nigeria Police officer to attend war college and drilled by Nigeria Army where I learnt tactics of the profession, however, how the uniform men respect each other and show inter collaboration. In Anambra state I’m the chairman of uniform personnel and I will not say because I’m a police officer, then I know it all, security wise, we are very cooperative. It is what we called security of purpose that dedicated to the core.
Given the focus on the relationship between the police and the news media, what do you hope to achieve working with them during this your tenure as regards to security matter in Anambra State?
I have achieved in life, I have mutual respect for the media, if the media wants to confirm things from me , they call me and I will answer them because they are like my children and I open my door to them. Inspector general of police (IGP) told us that we should have respect to the media. We should not allow anything that will make the media speculate, because where there is lack of communication. There will be no progress, so effective communication is very paramount.
Even in relationship let alone when you are securing community, some may be very adamant and media is doing its best. Since my assumption in office in this state, we have achieved a lot and that is while I have been given many awards from different media.
Considering the fact that the primary purpose of the government is the security and welfare of the people according to section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution. What are some of enormous support the force get from the state government?
The state government have done a lot to the security personnel , taken care of our bills but we are like Oliver twist, who always ask for more.
Base on assessment, can you tell us how much your officers have worked since you came to Anambra State Command?
Assessment should be done by the public but from the respond I received from the public including the Red Cross, NGOs particularly with the ones that deal with widows and children. Anambra people will tell what I have achieved in the state. Many Awards and titles are coming to me and that could be the achievement and assessment.
Is it ethical for a police man to divulge his source of information?
The public have right to know, if it is not guided by official secret Acts, the people have to know but if it something that is to going to cause issues, it should be avoided.
The Commissioner of police, Anambra State Police Command. CP Orutugu Livingston Ikioye (PhD) with The Forward News correspondents
Since your appointment as the Commissioner of police Anambra State, what has been your challenges and successes?
I don’t count these as challenge but the only challenge I have was I don’t have much chance base on my attention to work and my successes is that there is relatively peace in Anambra State.
Being a disciplined and a proactive commissioner of police whom have studied and served with distinction in operational, investigative and administrative capacity across various police formation and commands, what is your drive towards this path and what will you be remembered for?
I will be remembered as a professional police officer who believes in ethics, if you give me money I’ll like to know why you are giving the money, but if it is otherwise, I will react because I’m a very straight forward man. Some power broker do come, asking me to repost an officer, but I will not do it. I have seen poverty and wealth, enjoyment and suffering. I’m a professional to the core, nothing human beings will use to entice me that will change my life
I have worked as commandant in Lagos, I was also Chief Security Officer (CSO) to a governor for 5 years, I also gone for missions and worked in different departments so nothing can influence me, I have seen many things and now a Commissioner of Police Anambra state. I have good education up to PhD level with many children including grandchildren and nothing anybody can give to influence me, Im a fulfilled police officer.
What is your speech or advice to the people of Anambra State in terms of being security conscious and eradicatng crime and so on?
Be yourself and we are also telling ” ndi” Anambra that enough is enough. We are at the stage where we saw a lot of blood shed and in this state we have mutual agreement, we don’t want people to cause trouble and if anybody do, we will not let them go for free, we are asking Anambra people to come home to enjoy themselves the way they do during the last Easther as Christmas is coming, we are not hiding it, Anambra is safe.
