For security to be assured across communities that make Anambra State, the traditional in the State had a key role to play by way of supporting the security agencies to achieve the desired goal of ensuring a safe and secure society for all.

This was the crux of the message from the State Commissioner of Police, John Abang when he briefed the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council at the Council Chamber, Government House, Awka in Anambra State where he had an interactive session with the traditional rulers in the State today.

On his way back from the interactive session, CP Abang led emergency efforts to contain a fire incident at a welding workshop located along Enugu-Agidi Road, Amawbia, Awka, Anambra State.

According to him, he noticed an explosion by roadside and when he checked it was a fire outbreak and promptly called in the State Fire Service, which responded alongside members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

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During the interactive session where issues bordering on safety and security were addressed by him, CP John Abang briefed the traditional rulers on the security situation in the State and the strategic action plans taken by the Command under his leadership to address them.

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He noted that these action plans include community partnerships, threats analysis, intelligence gathering and robust synergy among the sister agencies and, most importantly, the support of the State Governor, Willie Obiano.  

Responding, the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi of Onitsha (Agbogidi), His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, thanked the Commissioner of Police for honouring their invitation, assuring him of their maximum support in partnering with the Police towards providing safety and security in the State.

Meanwhile, under the directive of the Commissioner for Police, the security operatives cordoned off the area around where the fire incident happened and diverted traffic to alternative routes in order to prevent catastrophe until after the fire was successfully put off by the fire fighters.

The situation was brought under control and obstruction cleared to enable free flow of traffic before CP Abang continued his journey back to the State Police Command headquarters.

In another development, a male cobbler and a woman, whose identities were yet to be ascertained, who sustained varying degrees of burns were rushed to the Preston Hospital, Ngozika Housing Estate for treatment.

Unfortunately , a welder, identified as Monday Ayo Adenipekun, popularly known as AY, aged about 35 years, who was working on top of the tanker, which exploded, was burnt to death and his body evacuated to Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.

A total number of four vehicles including two tankers, one tipper and one Toyota Camry where affected by the inferno.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the exploded tanker was brought into the workshop for welding no sooner than it had discharged fuel. The residual fuel in the tank was eventually ignited during the welding.