Sam okaula NEW ananbra CP, SENDS WORD AROUND.

new Commissioner of Police in Anambra state has, for long, earned the sobriquet ‘Crime Buster’. This was borne out of his dexterity and expertise in fighting criminals all over the country.

With an unenviable record of traversing the length and breadth of the country in different capacities in the police force. Sam Abichele Okaula spoke with our Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie in Awka, recently.

Assessment of security situation As a matter of fact, I want to say that Anambra is the safest state in country now.

The security agencies have cooperated. They have been doing this together and the result has come to the fore that Anambra is the safest state in the country. We are excessively in control. We have placed a platform where we work together and I can assure that this is the place to be. Investors are smiling to the state. Everybody is coming home.

 The feeling all over town now is that a crime buster is on saddle. Could you give us the resume of your background that has made this to be possible? Yea, before I do that, let me tell you that I want to commend the governor of the state. He is the one that has created an enabling environment to do what we are doing. He is passionate about fighting crime.

He is like the Commander- in- Chief of the army of anti-criminals. So, I want to seriously commend the governor of Anambra state, Chief Dr Obiano. 

CP, Sam Okaula CP, Sam Okaula He is doing a very marvelous job and we are proud of him and we will not disappoint him. Getting back to my background, I think it is simple, I joined the police officer as a cadet officer and I have transversed across the length and breadth of this country. I have worked in almost all capacities. The records are there for everyone to see and I have been in the investigative arm for quite some time, the commissioner of police for investigation for CID.

 I have also been in operation, administration. My background is such that I have received it all and I have accumulated experience that guides me in the performance of my duty. I think I have a very rich background as far as this job is concerned. How did you tackle crime on assumption of duty? Like I told you, I already have what it takes to do the job.

So while I was posted here, I knew that I had to key into the platform that had been created and I did just that. That has been the reason for the successes. I also came with my wealth of experience and imparted it on the officers.

 I wrote riot act to Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders and I told them what I wanted and they have not digressed from this directive. Recently, there were skirmishes between two communities and you dangled the big stick.

 What really happened? I think that case is already in court and I don’t want to talk about it. It can amount to sub-judice. Suffice to say that we will not allow anyone to take laws into their hands. The issue here is not about two communities. Police formations were attacked and somebody lost his life, a DPO lost his life, three other police officers were shot. One of them is on danger list as I am talking to you now.

 Well like I said, the case is in court and I don’t want to talk about it but we are also going out to look for other members of the gang that did that. It is an act of crime and that is the way I will look at it. We would want to warn members of other communities that if they have any grouse, any reason to complain, they should go through the right channels.

 They should go to the court or to the police station. Nobody should take laws into their hands. We will not allow a situation where there would be break down of law and order. There is this allegation that a reputable millionaire was —- I don’t know about that. I don’t know about that.

How do you check the excesses of your men especially in Onitsha which is a commercial nerve centre? Like I told you, Anambra has changed a lot and the men have now embraced decency.

Yesterday, I went to talk to the SARS men in Awkuzu and also I am going round. I am giving them the dos and don’ts of this administration. The Inspector-General of Police is explicit about that. There will be no act of corruption; there would be no act of indiscipline.

 If you don’t go the right way, we’ll break you. What have you done about the notorious Awkuzu SARS cells? I don’t know whether I want to accept the word notorious because it does not connote anything good.

 I check my entire cell, I talk to the commanders of these outfits and I make sure that they do the right thing. I have not received any report that the place is notorious. If it is, then fine and good because they have a new sheriff in town and this sheriff does not condone such.

As a gateway state, Anambra is precariously prone to infiltration by criminals. What are you doing about it? We have our men. We have special squad around our axis and Enugu and all other outlets, Imo and all. These men are working and they are being checked every now and then to ensure that they are doing a good job.

We are in control of the situation. What about cultism We don’t have much of it here but we have a very effective unit called Anti-Cult based at Enugwu-Ukwu. Yesterday, like I said, I went to address them and commend the good job that they are doing in talking to people, in talking to institutions. We are also talking to stakeholders and we are getting results from that.


 I think cultism is not really pronounced here but wherever they raise their ugly heads here, we are always ready to checkmate it. Recently, the Inspector-General of Police directed that we should invite every prominent person within our state, our area of jurisdiction.

 I did that last week and it was marvelous. I am proud to tell you that our former Vice president of this wonderful country, Dr Alex Ekwueme , a whole lot of prominent sons and daughters attended and we discussed and exchanged ideas. I intend keeping it up in line with the directives of the IGP. What have you done about the menace of cattle rearers in your state? Are they a threat? They are not a threat but we have it happening around our neighbouring states.

 What we do is that we put mechanisms to ensure that we don’t experience such in this state. We take proactive measures to ensure that it does not stray over to our command. What is your message to the good people of Anambra state? There is this officer that has come to town. His name is Samuel Okaula. He has no patience for crime and criminality. He has no patience for corruption and corrupt practices.

 He is a man who wants to do his job and has been doing that all over the places. The message is that Anambra people should cooperate with me and I can assure them that I’ll create an enabling environment for them to do their lawful duties. I can assure them that gone are the days of kidnapping, armed robbery, violent crimes etc.. We will do our best, I will ensure that I do my best to maintain the standard that I have met and improve on it.

I will ensure that Anambra state remains the safest in the country so that we can attract investors, so that people can go about their lawful duties, so that Anambra children can come in during Christmas and other festivities. This is the state where I think everybody would be proud of. This is a state that I will make sure I maintain.