Akwa Ibom Defends Adoption Of Community Policing

Governor of Akwa Ibom State Umo Eno has given more insights into the other reasons behind the recently launched community policing code – named: Ibom Communities Watch (ICW) besides security.

The governor, LEADERSHIP recalled, had immediately upon his assumption of office, announced the disbandment of some rag – tag groups, formed by his predecessor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, to complement the regular police in crowd control duties at major public events of government.

But unhealthy rivalries amongst the groups led by notable leaders of different cult associations and confraternities, always led to inter – group brawls at social events, thereby embarrassing the governor and members of his entourage.

However, to curb the ugly trends, which Governor Eno, at different fora, described as ugly and embarrassing to his government in the face of the ongoing sectoral reforms, an Executive Order (EO) disbanding the groups was issued with the security agencies directed to demobilize and rehabilitate members towards their reassignment to new functional and legitimate roles in government.