The Nigerian Police (NPF), Ebonyi Command has warned the general public against mob action on persons, saying it was unlawful.
Mrs Anthonia Uche-Anya, Commissioner of Police gave the warning on Thursday in Abakaliki, during the Command’s meeting with the critical stakeholders in the state on the move to clampdown on crime in the state.
Uche-Anya said the essence of the meeting was to harness the challenging issues on security operations and way forward for better Ebonyi and Nigeria at large.
“I urge you to always report issues than taking the laws into hand by causing harm to your fellow citizens. I condemned the act of Mob action,” she added
The Commissioner called for more collaboration among major stakeholders to curb all forms of criminalities.
Uche-Anya described crime fighting as everybody’s business, noting that the police in Ebonyi is committed to protection of lives and property of residents.
She noted that no business could thrive in atmosphere of insecurity and urged the youth to desist from criminality.
In their responses, the stakeholders during the meeting decried the rising cases of illegal activities of the scrap dealers across communities in the state.
The stakeholders at the meeting with the Police on Thursday in Abakaliki called for the need to regulate the activities of the scrap dealers, otherwise known as “local waste pickers”.
They described it as “worrisome” on the incessant looting of both government and private property, especially metal and electricity cables.Mr Moses Nome, Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state said there was need to profile members of the scrap dealers in Ebonyi.
Nome, also Chairman of Ezza North local government said that arresting and prosecuting scrap dealers would go a long in checkmating insecurity, especially in the rural areas.
Also speaking, Mr Timothy Nwachi, Chairman of Afikpo local government area called for more security meetings at the grassroots level in the efforts to achieve free crime society.
The Chairman of Izzi Traditional Rulers Council, Mr Sunday Oketa adopted the move for sensitisation of the general, especially the youths on the fight again insecurity for sustainable development.