By Sarah Ezeh
The newly deployed Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has assumed office as the 36th Commissioner of Police of the Anambra State Police Command.
Ama took over the leadership of the Command following the retirement of his predecessor, AIG Ikioye Orutugu.
Ikioye was elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police before retiring from the Nigeria Police Force.
The new CP pledged to strengthen intelligence-led policing, deepen community partnerships and enforce a zero-tolerance policy against extortion and other forms of police misconduct.
Speaking with journalists at the State Police Headquarters in Amawbia on Monday, the Commissioner said his administration would build on the existing security gains in the state while adopting proactive measures to address emerging security challenges.
He warned officers and men of the command against acts capable of tarnishing the image of the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that extortion, intimidation, harassment and other unprofessional conduct would not be tolerated.
According to Ama, the Command will focus on intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, digital surveillance, proactive crime prevention and improved criminal investigations to enhance public safety.
He said modern security challenges require innovative policing strategies backed by intelligence gathering, technology and strong collaboration with communities.
The Commissioner also pledged to strengthen cooperation with other security agencies, organised vigilante groups, traditional institutions, community leaders, youths, women and other stakeholders to improve security across Anambra State.
He said community policing would remain a major priority, noting that effective policing depends on public trust and active citizen participation.
Ama urged the people of Anambra State to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information capable of preventing and combating crime, assuring them that the Police would continue to protect lives and property while upholding the rule of law.
On the increasing practice of members of the public recording police officers during official duties, the Commissioner said citizens have the right to document alleged misconduct by police personnel.
He, however, cautioned against using such recordings to obstruct officers from carrying out lawful responsibilities or deliberately provoke confrontations.
He assured residents that officers under his command would be held to the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
The Commissioner also announced that the Police Command would bear the full medical expenses of the only surviving child among the four children recently rescued unconscious in Ideani, Idemili South Local Government Area.
Describing the incident as tragic, Ama said three of the children died despite efforts by medical personnel to save them, while the surviving child remains on intensive medical treatment.
He assured that the Command would closely monitor the child’s recovery and ensure all necessary medical care is provided, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue.
Ama further disclosed that pending criminal investigations would receive renewed attention to ensure cases are thoroughly investigated and diligently prosecuted.
The Commissioner reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with the media, describing journalists as key stakeholders in the state’s security architecture.
He urged media professionals to continue reporting responsibly by ensuring their reports remain factual, balanced and guided by the public interest.
He assured residents that the Police Command under his leadership would remain committed to creating a secure environment where people can live, work and conduct legitimate businesses without fear.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described Ama as a seasoned police officer with more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.
Before his posting to Anambra State, Ama served as Commissioner of Police, Intelligence and Training, at the Force Intelligence Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, after previously serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police in the same department.
A native of Ekata in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Jos.
He served in several strategic operational, investigative and administrative positions, including Area Commander, Nnewi, and Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command.
He has attended several professional and strategic courses within and outside Nigeria, including programmes at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, as well as training organised by the British Military Advisory and Training Team and the British High Commission College of Policing.
Ama is a recipient of a Commendation Award for bravery following the recovery of an AK-47 rifle during an exchange of gunfire with armed robbers in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, in 2007.
He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Psychological Association and the Nigeria Institute of Police Studies.
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