By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
CP Livingstein Ikioye Orutugu, new Commissioner of Police in Anambra state, on Monday officially assumed duty.
Shortly after, he visited the family of the three murdered children at Okpuno Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
He said that his leadership would prioritize intelligence gathering as part of the strategies to deal with criminality and insecurity ravaging the state.
Orutugu, who replaced Nnaghe Obono Itam as the state’s 35th Commissioner of Police, made his first media briefing at the family of Mr Jude Ejezie and his wife, Mrs Chikazor Ejezie, where three siblings — Ejezie Chikaima Daviana (aged 9 years), Ejezie Chimziterem Dominica (aged 7), and Edozie Chimdilim David (aged 5), were killed and stored inside a freezer in Okpuno Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the State.
Orutugu, after inspecting the scene of the crime in company of some senior police officers and the parents of the murdered children, condemned the incident.
He commiserated with the family, and vowed to unravel and nab the perpetrators of the dastardly act and secure justice for the victims.
He said, “I am also here to console the family/relatives of the victims and to reiterate the commitment of the Anambra State Police Command over this unwholesome crime, unlike other similar incidents recorded in the State which bordered on kidnapping of individuals and sudden disappearance of persons.
“We shall unravel the circumstances surrounding such and ensure that the suspects are arrested and justice served.”
He further appealed for the collaboration of the public in getting the necessary information to facilitate the process.
On general security of the state, Orutugu said he was on a mission to fully reclaim the public space across the state as well as maintain law and order, towards stabilizing the security architecture of the state.
Orutugu said the Command had been bold in confronting the security challenges and had recorded several successes lately in curbing some of these crimes, through the collaboration and support of Anambra citizens and the state government through the launch of Operation Udo Ga-Achi.
According to him, “To support this move, the Command under my watch shall take every professional step in crime prevention to enhance crime-fighting strategies through strategic deployment of our intelligence assets and robust synergy with sister security agencies, organized vigilante groups and other stakeholders.
“Anambra state is blessed with vibrant, energetic and enterprising people full of potentials. These potentials can only be fully realized in a peaceful, secure environment.”
He further sought the support and collaboration of the media to help the Command to accomplish the mission of stabilizing security in the state.
He also urged Anambra people to remain law-abiding and continue to support the Command and sister agencies in their role of combating criminality.
“There is no doubt also, that as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, you are a critical partner in the peace and security architecture of the State. Your primary role in communicating effectively and transparently to the general public, major incidents in the State confers on you the position of stakeholders.
“I therefore count on your invaluable support, devoid of sentiments, by reporting security-related incidents in the most professional and objective manner.
“I urge the good people of Anambra state to remain law-abiding, vigilant and to continue to partner and support the Police and other security agencies, towards combating all forms of criminality as well as ensuring public security and safety in the State.
“For those who have been misled to take to crime, you are warned to retrace your steps as the command is poised to deal squarely with all acts of criminality without regard for status. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”
Sharing the biography of the new CP in a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, stated that Orutugu hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The statement reads: “The Commissioner of the Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, today 10/2/2025 has taken over as the 35th Commissioner of Police Anambra State from CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, who was recently redeployed to Force Headquaters as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Counter Terrorism Unit, Abuja.
“CP Ikioye Orutugu was born on 3rd August 1966 and is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on 18th May 1992 as a cadet Assistant Superintendent at the Nigeria Police Academy Annex Kaduna.
“CP Orutugu holds a BSc in Political Science from the University of Port Harcourt, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos and a PhD in Sociology of Education from the University of Port Harcourt, amongst others.”
