Traders, tricycle operators and other residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, have heaved a sigh of relief following the sudden positive changes that are coming out from the Ndiegoro Police Division.
Aba City News reports that the Ndiegoro Police Division aka “Cameroun Barracks”, had over several decades built its reputation as the undisputable notorious police station in Aba, as a result of many unprintable activities linked to some police officers that have served there.
Several published and unpublished stories had linked the station to unlawful arrest of innocent citizens at night, harassment of tricycle and bus operators and giving untrained civilians police uniforms to impersonate genuine police officers (catchers).
Other negative reputation the station and its officers built over the years in Aba includes, drinking in nearby bars and joints while on duty, congested cell, hostile and constantly crowded premises, et cetera.
Austin Onyema, a tricycle operator who operates from Ngwa Road by East Street to Ogbor-Hill axis of the city told Aba City Blog that for the past two months, he cannot remember when last he saw any policeman moving tricycle towards the station.
“It’s good you people from Newspaper are out to know how people like us are feeling security wise as we move close to Christmas. As for me, my biggest joy is that those policemen at Cameroun Barracks seems to be on strike or don’t exist anymore.
“I must confess that Cameroun Barracks to my amazement is looking like a police station once again. I don’t know what happened, but whatever it’s, it’s a good one. Before, my Keke is one week, one trouble with Cameroun Barracks police officers.
“I just thank God that they’ve finally disappeared from our lives and probably more engaged to their real duties or must have looked for something else to do.
“I can at least make money for myself and my family and not for policemen who earn monthly salaries that I’ll never see even in three months,” he said.
Okeke Ejindu, a bus driver who plies from Ariaria International Market to Ahia-Ohuru(New Market), through Ngwa Road by Mosque Street, corroborated Ogwuamanam’s view when he said that he wished the sudden change at the Ndiegoro Police Division will be made permanent.
According to Ejindu, “During Christmas periods like this, when Harmattan must have helped to make some roads motorable, police officers from Cameroun Barracks are always our problem.
“They’re even worst than the bad roads. But I’m surprised to see that as at 19th December, they’re not harassing anyone and I can’t see most of those troublesome ones anymore.
“I’ve asked and I was told that former DPO who was there when the burning of buildings took place around Okojombo, Ntueke and Degema streets was transferred and a new man brought to take over. Although I’m not sure yet.
“But from what I’m seeing and from what most of our colleagues who have had contact with the station of recent are also saying, it looks as if our nightmares are over. I pray the nightmares remain permanently over.
“At least, we can now say that when the rain returns and our roads are still as bad as this, God forbid, our only major problem will be the roads and not our fellow humans on uniform.”
Investigation by Aba City Blog revealed that there was truly a change in the leadership of the Ndiegoro Police Division during the heat of the arson alleged to have been perpetrated by officers from the station.
As gathered, the new Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station, SP Alphonsus Ayang, was moved from the Obehe Police Division during the heat of the Ndiegoro crisis.
A reliable source within the Aba Area Command which Ndiegoro Police Division falls under, told Aba City Blog that over 40 police officers who have stayed at the Division for many years have been transferred.
According to the source who chose to remain anonymous, “Catchers are no more allowed at Cameroun Barracks. The new DPO has finally put an end to that. There’s a serious cleansing going on in that station now and it’s for the good of everyone.
“More than 40 police officers who have overstayed in that station and were almost becoming landlords have been transferred as the cleansing continues both on personnel and attitude.
“Before their transfer most of them were even arrested while drinking at joints and bars. You can go there and see that those bars now close by 7PM and everywhere is calm.
“That vigilante team that normally stay there causing problems, have been removed. All those people claiming to be station owners and answering names like ‘Civilian DPO’ have no space there again as all have been shown the exit door.
“All the Keke that they usually seize from the operators which they parked all over the station have all been cleared. Sanity truly has surprisingly and suddenly been restored at the Ndiegoro Police Division.”
Abia State Police Commissioner, Ene Okon said that every necessary measures were put in place to end the activities of “catchers” within the police station.
Okon said that the negative implications of making use of “catchers” on police image is way too higher than any positive impact it may have and will never be tolerated.
He confirmed that all police officers who must have stayed for more than five years at the Ndiegoro Police Division were transferred and will never come back.
