Anambra State Police Commissioner , Mr Hassan Karma, has banned officers and men of the force from accompanying agents and collectors in revenue drive in the state.
The police boss gave the warning in Onitsha on Tuesday during a visit to the Onitsha Police Area Command and other police divisional stations at Inland Town and Fegge, all within the commercial city.
Karma also warned that any police officer involved in any civil matter, especially family issues and land matters, in the state would be dealt with.
He warned people using the police in achieving their civil matter objectives to desist from it.
“We strongly advise the civil populace to keep Police out of civil matter since it is not part of their job.
“Anybody who has a civil matter should go to court.’’
Karma also vowed that the Police would not give the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) any opportunity to operate in the state.
According to him, over 50 members of MASSOB, who were arrested on Sunday, had been moved to the Police Zonal Headquarters in Umuahia, Abia, for further interrogation and prosecution.
The commissioner said that 27 of them were arrested in a church in Okpoko, where they allegedly held a catholic priest hostage to pray for them.
“When you want to build a house, they are there; when you want to open your shop, they are there; their behavior is not different from hoodlums.
“We cannot accept that; they went to Okpoko and held a priest hostage to pray for them in the name of marking anniversary.
“They are breeding kidnappers and armed robbers.’’
He also urged officers and men of the Police to dress properly when they were on duty, as the command would deal decisively with anyone who dressed shabbily.
Karma lauded some officers in the city for distinguishing themselves in crime control, describing them as `special officers’ who carried out their duties passionately.
In a welcome address, the Divisional Police Officer for Fegge, Mr Rabiu Garba, assured the commissioner that they would consolidate on their achievements.
Garba appealed to him to improve the infrastructural facilities in their divisions as well as address the shortage of personnel in the area.
