By; PETER UTEBOR, Asaba Two books aimed at promoting excellence in policing were on Saturday, launched at the Banquet Hall, Wel
By; PETER UTEBOR, Asaba
Two books aimed at promoting excellence in policing were on Saturday, launched at the Banquet Hall, Wellington Hotel, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State.
The books were written by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Anietie Akran Eyoh, Commandant of the Mopol Training College, Osun State, and Dr. Maria Chinecherem Uzonwanne, an Associate Professor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
They were unveiled before an audience of academics, security experts, politicians and community leaders.
The public launch and book review had as chief host, the immediate past Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr. Michael E. Tidi.
The two works are titled, “Police Operational Strategy and Tactical Leadership for Enhanced Professionalism” and ” Economic Impact and Policing and the Perils of Duty: Understanding the Causes of Careless Death Among Police Officers”.
They were reviewed by Professor Uju Ezenekwe and Professor Mart Olire Edema.
Speaking during the review, Professor Uju Ezenekwe said the first book was more than a manual for officers. According to him, “The book before us Police Operational Strategy and Tactical Leadership for Enhanced Professionalism and Economic Impact is not just a manual for officers. Even the chief host mentioned it when he was speaking, it is a compass for 21st Century policing in Nigeria and beyond.”
He explained that the book explored leadership under pressure, intelligence-led strategy, the role of technology, and human-centered policing as central to modern security.
Professor Ezenekwe said, “Today we step into the world where law enforcement meets leadership, where strategy merges with discipline, and where the future of policing is defined not only by strength in arms but also by strength in vision.”
He further noted that the book challenges policy makers and scholars to rethink policing around ethics, strategy and technology.
He stressed that technology was now unavoidable in policing. “A time will come where you won’t even operate again without those things. The same way in policing,” he said.
The professor also linked professional policing to national security and economic growth. He said, “This security in our land is costing us a lot. Foreigners who are supposed to come and invest are not doing that, and that is affecting our economic growth. That is why the book emphasizes that professional policing fuels national security, which in turn fuels economic growth.”
He described tactical leadership in policing as vision, adaptability, integrity and foresight, not just the use of weapons. “It is about commanding respect not through fear but through professionalism,” he added.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the launch and chief host, Dr. Michael Tidi, commended ACP Eyoh and Dr. Uzonwanne for their effort in putting their experiences into books that would benefit the nation.
He said policing was not the duty of one agency alone and urged citizens to support the police in discharging their constitutional duties. According to him, the books provided foresight and depth, adding that the authors had contributed to the growth and advancement of society. “To produce two books such as these authors have done is deep and foresighted. They have shown love for the police institution and the security of our country,” Dr. Tidi said.
In her remarks, Dr. Maria Chinecherem Uzonwanne narrated how her interaction with policemen during training sessions at the Police Training Institute inspired the writing of the books. She said her association with the officers during workshops in Osun State helped her appreciate the challenges faced by security personnel.
She recalled her first lecture session with armed policemen. “The first experience was when I came into the lecture room, meeting them with their guns. And I said to myself, how are you going to withstand this? But when I joked with them, the whole class became lively, and it became a wonderful class,” she said.
Dr. Uzonwanne explained that the books were written to extend the knowledge gained during the training sessions to officers across the country and beyond. “These courses we’ve done are not going to end with all these DPOs. We need to move forward, because some of them might get back to their destination and not be able to impact what they have learned. So let’s bring it out as a book, not just for Nigerians but for the entire world,” she stated.
She disclosed that the books had already been listed on Amazon, making them available to a global audience. She said, “In fact, this book is not just ending here in Nigeria, it has gotten to Amazon globally.”
She also emphasized the need for discipline and confidence among law enforcement officers, noting that these were not inborn traits but developed with training. “Confidence is not hereditary. It is something you build in yourself. You are not born with it, you develop it,” she said.
Several dignitaries at the launch, including former House of Representatives member for Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Efe Afe, journalist, and others also commended ACP Eyoh and his co-author for their contribution to knowledge and national development.
The event ended with goodwill messages from guests, who described the books as timely interventions that will help reposition policing in Nigeria and foster professionalism in law enforcement.
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