The appointment of a woman, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah, as the Police Commissioner for Ebonyi State has introduced a new dimension to the security of the state, writes Benjamin Nworie

It is the statutory responsibility of the security agencies to maintain peace, law and order in the society. This responsibility has by far ensured the protection of lives and property and the peaceful coexistence of people in their respective areas. Security challenges differ from one geopolitical zone to the other. While armed robbery, communal clashes and kidnapping are dominant cases in the South, terrorism takes the centre stage in the Northern part of the country.

However, to ensure a crime-free society, the contributions of security agencies cannot be overemphasized and chief here is the police. Ebonyi State has benefited from the “thankless job” of the security agencies. In 2008, when the Ezza/ezillo broke out, various security agencies in the state rallied round to ensure safety of the people with a lot of kudos to the former commissioner, CP Dikpo Ayeni.

Although the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Maigari Dikko was also adjudged to have performed impressively in keeping fate with his core mandate in the state especially during the conduct of the last general election, combined with Dikko’s attitudinal character, resilience and commitment to fighting crimes in the society, the assessment of the past commissioner was above average, and perhaps, left a big shoe.

But the assumption that a closed way always gives rise to another may have addressed the curiosity of Ebonyians in having an alternative, a better one for that matter. Surprisingly, Dikko’s replacement is a woman with a difference. Whatever her male counterparts were able to do, indications have emerged that the strength of a lion lies in its tiny fingers.
Her name is Peace Ibekwe Abdallah. She was transferred from Force

Headquarters, Abuja, where she was in charge of IGP’s Monitoring Unit. A worthy daughter of the South-east zone of the country from Anambra State and a daughter of former Commissioner of Police in the East Central state, it is clear the family has a thing for security job.
Her transfer to Ebonyi as the second female Commissioner of Police and 17th since the creation of the state comes with a lot of expectations, at least to sustain the relative peace in the state and confront enormous challenges of communal clashes. The first female police boss in the state was Mrs. Julie Iroha. But Abdallah assumed office with a unique marshal plan to work with the media and stakeholders in all the 260 communities in the state to ensure team work for effective policing. This feat has started in earnest.

For instance, less than 24 hours that the former Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, Johnson Obunna was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, the new CP immediately swung into action and ensured his safe release.

She had noted on assumption of office that her concern was not to make noise but to walk the talk with her assurance to rid the state of crimes and criminality. During her courtesy call to the governor, Dave Umahi, she categorically stated that the command would depend on stakeholders and communities to succeed.

“I will be proactive in reaching out to all communities so that there will not be communication gap in the state. I am a woman with few words. I am a woman of action. I am here to walk the talk, not to make noise. We will partner the community by reaching out to stakeholders. We are not up to 3000 policemen in Ebonyi State; it is evident that without the community we serve, we cannot succeed.”
Umahi, in his remark, noted that Ibekwe’s transfer was an act of God, and promised to put street lights and water in the police headquarters. The governor said her joviality should not be taken for granted because somebody that smiles like her is always strict and difficult.

“I am very impressed with the Nigeria Police of today. Your Predecessor, Dikko was more like a brother to us. There is nothing good as honest and uprightness. The news of his transfer was a huge shock to us but we believe that as a woman, you will be a mother to us,” the governor said.iyhha

In Ebonyi State, apart from the periodic political crises, communal clashes seem to be a major threat to the collective existence and harmonious relationship in almost all the communities in the state – a state with a record of dispute that had lasted for about hundred years but was brought to an end in 2004 through divine intervention.

The clash was between Ojiegbe in Onicha local government and Ogboji in Ishielu local government. The horrible experiences of the war do not worth remembering because thousands of lives were lost in the process, not to talk of destroyed property. This is to underscore the need for peace and undoubtedly, the “Peace Commissioner” will bring forth peace in the state.

Without peace, there can be no development. The imperative of peace in any society cannot be overemphasised. Peace brings unity among different countries, tribes and communities. Among other dominant social vices that breed crisis and threaten peaceful existence in any local settlements are communal crises.

The present administration of Umahi also underscores the imperative of peace when the state government began the holistic renewal of the metropolis with street lights and stationed armed policemen to rid criminals and hoodlums of the state capital.

Cases of communal clashes in the state, orchestrated by land disputes are legion and had become worrisome that past and present administrations adopted several approaches to ensure peaceful coexistence of the people in all parts of the state.

Notable among the communal clashes in the state were the unfortunate Ezza/ Ezillo land dispute that claimed several lives; boundary disputes between Ikwo and Cross River; boundary dispute between Ivo and Lokpanta in Abia State as well as the boundary disputes between

Effium and Benue State among others. These are a few of the unresolved crises that need concerted efforts of individuals, communities, government and security agencies to contain.

But bearing in mind the need and desirability of harmonious relationship and peaceful coexistence, the present administration has assured that it would empower the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution to nip any conflict at its earliest stage. With this government’s preparedness to ensuring a crime-free society, it is expected that the new commissioner will leverage the opening to further promote and sustain the relative peace in the state.