Police inaugurate operation ‘Puff Adder’ in Anambra

The Police Command in Anambra, on Thursday, inaugurated “Operation Puff Adder” aimed at intensifying the fight against crime and criminality in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura, flagged off the operation at the Okpoko Police Division, Ogbaru, near Onitsha, the commercial city of the state.
Dandaura said that the flagging off of the operation was in compliance with the directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
He said: “Operation Puff Adder’ is simply the intensification of police operations in and around the state with the sole objective of smoking out and getting rid of miscreants and criminals wherever they may be hiding.
“It will consolidate our achievements in recent times. With ‘Operation Puff Adder,’ law-abiding citizens and residents have a lot to gain.”
The police commissioner said the inauguration of the operation in Okpoko was significant, given the intense economic activities and dense population of the area which made it highly susceptible to crimes.
He commended the Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, for supporting the police and other security agencies, saying that the support had ensured robust synergy among them.
Dandaura, however, urged members of the public to be law-abiding and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies.
He stated: “All I request from the members of the public is to be law-abiding and to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies who are working assiduously to ensure security and peace in society.”
In his speech, Governor Obiano, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, commended the inspector-general of police for the initiative.
Obiano recalled that his administration had declared war on crime on assumption of office in order to ensure safety of lives and property.
He said: “Before my administration came into being, Anambra was running a six-hour economy, but now, with our successes in security, our state now runs a 24-hour economy.
“Our people now come back home to the state to settle and participate in social activities without spending so much on security,” he said.
The governor, while urging the security agencies to sustain the synergy among them, also warned criminal elements to stay away from the state or face retribution.
“Do not be intimidated by pressure from anyone to release any crime suspect without proper investigation; there is no room for sacred cows.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Anambra Vigilante Supervisory Committee, Ikechukwu Aduba, appealed to communities in the state to support government and the security agencies by providing useful information to them.
Aduba said: “The current IGP has taken security to the next level and Nigerians need to support his efforts to make the country safe.
“We know that the state of security in the country is worrisome but it is a global issue; we will not be overwhelmed.”