Aleke Aleke, Abuja
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, said peace has returned to the state through a policing strategy built on dialogue, emotional intelligence and community trust rather than reliance on firearms.
Speaking in a telephone interview, the CP said the approach has delivered notable security gains across the state.
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He noted that he adopted a transparent, community-based model that involves regular engagement with town union leaders, traditional rulers and youth groups.
He explained that he often invites stakeholders to his office or personally visits conflict-prone areas to resolve disputes, noting that previous attempts rooted in armed confrontation yielded little success.
His decision, he said, was to “play on emotions” and engage residents logically and respectfully instead of resorting to force.
This shift, Orutugu noted, quickly rebuilt public confidence.
Commercial hubs such as Abakaliki Street—once notorious for closing early—now remain active into the early hours of the morning because residents trust that police patrol teams will consistently return each night.
The CP also disclosed that he moved to regulate the activities of local vigilantes, popularly known as Agunechemba, after securing approval from the Inspector-General of Police to retrain them on human rights, civility and lawful conduct.
Many communities, he said, have since voluntarily surrendered pistols and locally fabricated weapons to the police.
Further highlighting his non-violent approach, Orutugu revealed that he opened discreet communication channels with individuals linked to agitation groups.
Through intermediaries, voice notes were exchanged, leading to assurances that police personnel would no longer be targeted.
This understanding, he said, dramatically reduced attacks on security officers and helped stabilise previously volatile communities.
Describing his broader strategy as “The Anambra Project,” the commissioner said the peaceful mobilisation witnessed during the last election season demonstrated that non-violent policing can succeed when communities feel respected and genuinely involved in security processes.
He added that many Ndi Anambra at home and in the diaspora have expressed renewed confidence in returning to the state after years of staying away due to insecurity.
The success recorded, he emphasised, stems from collaboration with community leaders and a recognition that Anambra’s legacy of intellectuals, strategists and innovators demands a policing style rooted in mutual respect.
“I don’t lecture them,” he said. “Anambra people understand what peace means. We simply meet at a point and have honest conversations.”
