Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday, paid a visit to the Senior Police Officers Mess, Enugu, to address and commiserate with the members of the State Police Command, over loss of lives of private citizens and security personnel, grievous bodily injuries as well as destruction of private and public properties including security infrastructure, during the #EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums.
Ugwuanyi also appealed to the police to fully renew their ultimate commitment towards the provision of security of lives and property by returning to their duty posts across the state.
The governor said it was “an unusual and challenging period for the Police Force, needless and an ill-wind that blew no one any good.
“In our sensitivity to the mood and pains of the society under our watch, out administration has set up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to determine the loss of lives and other damages and has also taken time to inspect the various degrees and nature of damage arising from the hijacked protests’.
He added that his administration awaits the recommendations of the panel, assured that the recommendations will be implemented with a view of soothing the pains of the security personnel and private citizens who were victims of the mayhem.
Ugwuanyi noted that the psyche of the officers and men of the Police Force has been assaulted by the recent sad experience.
He expressed concern that “the self-evident low morale of the Police Force, occasioned by the fallout of the #EndSARS protests has, in our judgement, increased the likelihood of crime in the state.
“I, therefore, passionately implore you to fully renew your commitment to the provision of security of lives and property in the state, as was the case before the protests.
” The good people of Enugu State had, before now, enjoyed your excellent policing service and wish that you come fully on stream and return to all the security posts in the state”, he said.
The governor thanked the people of Enugu State for their prayers, support and solidarity. He urged them to renew their cooperation and partnership with the personnel of the security agencies to sustain the tempo of peace and good governance in the state.
Earlier , the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, expressed the appreciation of the Command to Governor Ugwuanyi for his humility, sense of responsibility, concern, care and love.
He thanked the governor for finding it necessary to come and commiserate with the men and officers of the Command, over the unfortunate fallout of the #EndSARS protests.
The CP said that the visit signified that:“We are under a very comfortable hand and care”.
He urged the police officers to pray for the governor and extend “our love, dedication and patriotism to him to enable him comfortably discharge his responsibilities that God has placed on his shoulders”.
A minute’s silence was observed for the deceased.
Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi has offered scholarship to Enugu-born Cajethan Goodluck Chineke, a student from Oji River Local Government Area of the state, who won the Bangkok Global Educational Award 2020.
Executive Secretary, Enugu State Scholarship and Education Loans Board (ESSELB), Uche Levi Abonyi, who announced this, stated that Chineke took the first position “after competing with over 50 countries and defeating over five million contestants in an essay competition”.
Abonyi disclosed that the award has placed “Enugu State as the global educationally adjudged best state in Africa and has made Nigeria the next host of this global competition for 2021”.
The ESSELB boss said that Ugwuanyi, who received the award winner at the Government House, Enugu, used the opportunity to thank him for the honor brought to the state.
The governor urged youths from the state to work hard to maintain the enviable feat by ensuring that they retain the trophy as Nigeria hosts the 2021 edition of the competition.
Responding, Chineke expressed appreciation to Governor Ugwuanyi for this very rare opportunity to represent the state and for the scholarship award given to me” and promised the governor that this show of love was an invitation to work harder.
