The Nigeria Police Force hasdescribedthe Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi,as the best Police-friendly Governor in Nigeria.

And in recognition of this, the Force, through its Deputy Inspector-General, Valentine Ntomchukwu, presented Umahi with a special plaque at the state Executive Council Chambers, Government House in Abakalikion Thursday.

Ntomchukwu said: “TheInspector-General, IbrahimIdris,has asked me to tell you that you are the most Police-friendly Governor in Nigeria and I am not saying it because I am inEbonyi State. It is because of what I have seen, which you have donefor the State Police Command.

“Honestly, on arrival to the Police Command, I saw streetlightandother things I have never seen in other police command and when Iasked they said the Governor did those things for the Command. I cansee houses for policemen of rank and file and I can see a storeybuilding also built by the Governor for the command.

“I am going to relay what I have seen to the IGP and maybe he willcome one day and see for himself the wonders you are doing in terms ofinfrastructural development.”

Ntomchukwu also lauded Umahifor the communication equipment he“provided for the Command and the ongoing renovation of the perimeterfencing and security post of the Command Headquarters,which havelifted the statusof the Command.”

He thereafter went ahead to, on behalf of the IGP, presenta specialplaque tothe Governor.

“Sir, find anywhere in your office and place this plaqueso that any time you turn around, you will look at it as a mark ofhonour and appreciation of your support to the police,” the DIG admonished Umahi.

He told the Governorthat prior to the outcome of the findings in respect of the communal clashes between Ebonyi and Cross River states, a new Police Squadron would be established as a buffer to forestall further loss of lives and property in the area.

He said: “We havebeenable to identify some peculiar security challenges you are having in the area of communal clash between some borderline communities between Ebonyi and Cross River.

“We have noted some of the reasons why historically it happened. There are practical steps we can take to curtail loss of lives and property. We are already thinking of establishing buffer police station in that area in form of a new mobile squadron.”

Responding, GovernorUmahi announced that plans were underway to empower Police Officers Wives as well as the wives of other security personnel in the state to motivate their husbands to work more efficiently.

While he requested that Policemen posted to stateshould be allowed to stay for much more than two years, the Governorappealed for the deployment of 10 Mobile Policemen to man the exit points of the state day and night with the aid of CCTV.

Umahi added:“We’re trying to man all our exit points and we need your manpower support. Wewant to have a small base by each of the exit junctions and then we use CCTV to see what happens 300 metres along the road. Everybase will be powered by solar light. So, we’restartingthe Pilot Scheme but we have shortage of manpower.”