The Anambra State Police Command has announced a major escalation of security patrols and intelligence-driven operations across the state, with a focus on schools and churches regarded as vulnerable to emerging security threats.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement released on Sunday in Awka, reaffirming that the command has activated new strategies aimed at ensuring safer learning and worship environments for residents.
Ikenga explained that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had issued fresh directives to all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders across Anambra.
According to him, the commissioner mandated intensified patrols, reinforced surveillance activities, and boosted intelligence-gathering efforts to prevent potential attacks before they occur.
He described the move as a proactive response designed to secure public spaces and strengthen community confidence amid concerns about rising insecurity nationally.
The statement quoted Orutugu as saying the police command remains fully committed to the protection of lives and property in Anambra.
The commissioner emphasized that security operations would continue to evolve in line with the dynamic nature of emerging threats, stressing that the command intends to sustain the stable atmosphere of peace that the state currently enjoys.
He added that officers under his watch have been directed to maintain visibility, respond swiftly to reports, and work closely with community stakeholders to ensure that no security vacuum emerges anywhere in the state.
Orutugu also praised residents for their increasing unity and safety consciousness, noting that community vigilance has played a crucial role in helping the police maintain peace across several localities.
He commended citizens for cooperating with law enforcement agencies, describing their actions as evidence of a collective commitment to safeguarding the state.
According to him, the willingness of residents to report suspicious movements and engage with security personnel reinforces the shared responsibility required to deter criminal activities.
NATIONAL PATTERN OF ATTACKS DRIVES HEIGHTENED ALERT
The enhanced security measures come on the heels of recent attacks and kidnappings carried out by armed bandits targeting schools and churches in parts of Northern Nigeria and in some South-Western states.
In several of these incidents, students, teachers, and worshippers were abducted, while others were injured or killed, triggering national alarm and prompting security agencies to adopt stricter preventive strategies.
The national trend of attacks on learning institutions and religious centres has forced many state governments and security formations to reassess their preparedness and introduce new safety protocols.
Although Anambra has not recorded large-scale classroom or church abductions comparable to those seen in the North, the police command insists that preventive action is essential to ensure the state does not experience similar tragedies.
The latest measures are therefore aimed at eliminating complacency, improving response times, and strengthening community confidence in law enforcement operations.
Ikenga assured residents that the police will continue to prioritize early detection of threats, deeper community engagement, and improved coordination with sister agencies across the South-East.
He urged the public to remain vigilant, cooperate fully with officers on duty, and promptly report unusual activities observed in any part of the state.
