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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Concerned about the ingenuity with which men of the underworld operated while unleashing terror and mayhem on their victims, the governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, has eventually come up with a security strategy intended to enhance the protection of lives and properties in the state.
Apart from the distribution of smart security vehicles and gadgets to organisations and agencies of government in Anambra state recently, the governor took a step further to revolutionalise security such that criminal elements no longer have hiding places anywhere across the state. This attempt pundits say is legendary.
Hence the coinage, Anambra State Integrated Security Surveillance System headed by the Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Creative Security System Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi.
Although doubting Thomases did not comprehend the efficacy, art and science of creative security because of the technological import of the innovation, the governor through his leutenants went extra miles to explain the viability, practicability and workability of the new security invention introduced by his administration.
Thus, the Chief of Staff to the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Primus Odili, the Special Adviser on Security, Safety and Emergency Mr. Chikodiri Anara and the Special Adviser on Creative Security Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, all made concerted efforts to explain the nitty gritty and fundamentals of the new creative security architecture in the state to the citizenry at a high-powered news briefing in Awka.
The Chief of Staff at the news briefing recalled the analogue security system Anambra operated before the advent of the new digital security system which according to him is the brain child of the present state government.
He recalled that Anambra was a home of criminal elements like 419 experts which resulted in the absence of investors in the state thereby causing incessant capital flights from the state.
The Chief of Staff also noted that highly reverred traditional practices like traditional marriage ceremonies were consummated in places like Ghana and other foreign lands because there was no peaceful atmosphere in Anambra state, better still, the security system was not water-tight.
This, he observed, was the remote reason the governor took security as one of his utmost priorities upon inception and came up with no retreat, no surrender war on criminals and criminalities in Anambra state.
Thus, the governor launched the first phase of what he termed Operation Nkpochapu, which implies flushing criminals out of Anambra state. The launch of the aforestated security concept heralded the distribution of security vehicles and communication gadgets to security outfits in the state.
Odili also stated that the governor launched creative security system because of the need to add more sophistication to crime detection and prevention with the sole aim of creating a new culture of tranquil atmosphere for all and sundry.
According to him, the state economy only thrived on 4 hours of trade and commerce due to interruptions of criminal elements but stressed that the revamping of the security apparatus in the state by the present state government marked a watershed in its security and surveillance system.
He noted that the criminal mind cannot be underestimated which according to him is why Governor Willie Obiano is introducing a lot of innovations and technologies to preempt criminals in order to keep them at bay before they strike.
Explaining the intents and purposes of the new creative cum multi-media security strategies further, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, the Special Adviser on Creative Security said formerly the idea was for people to dial emergency numbers to report crime or alert security agencies in time of danger but stated that the governor had to upgrade the security system by introducing the Anambra Integrated Security Surveillance System which involves the use of information and communication techologies to achieve what he described as smart city approach.
Chiobi noted that the governor has unveiled mobile security surveillance cameras across the state even though he said it was just a component of the multi-media security architecture the governor initiated.
He said ICT security equipment acquired are about the best on the surface of the earth stressing that Anambra state is the first place the equipment were being tested for the very first time and that the introduction of ICT gadgets would greatly improve as well as enhance approach to security of lives and properties of the citizenry.
Chikodiri Anara, the Special Adviser on Security, Safety and Emergency further lent credence to the postulations made on the efficacy of the new creative security approach in Anambra state.
Anara noted that given the dire situation in the past, he would describe the present Anambra state as a success story on security under Governor Willie Obiano which he said is anchored on a masterplan the governor initiated upon his inception into office.
He said the rate of crime was very high before Obiano became governor but when he assumed office as governor, Anara noted that the governor began to unveil his masterplan, hitting major flashpoints in the state menacingly and destroying kidnappers’ den thereby restoring the confidence of Anambra indigenes in their home state as well as making them return home for Yuletide, marriage ceremonies and other festivities.
He said that the new multi-media integrated security approach was another milestone achievement of the Obiano administration intended to give criminals a hot-chase and also make Anambra state uncomfortable for them while guaranteeing a serene and peaceful environment for the citizenry and businesses to thrive thereby making Anambra a choice investment destination.
