The Isuikwuato Area Commander, ACP Ebipamowei Okoyen says, he instituted a football tournament last Easter in the area to engage youths in the area away from vices.
Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, ACP Ebipamowei Okoyen who is the organizer of the competition said “Knowing that stakeholders in the area will be present during the Easter and to stop the youths from vices, we decided to engage them with the football competition.
“This was also in the spirit of community/Police partnership, as well as community policing and it paid off”.
According to him, the area Command consists of Isuikwuato, Umunneochi and Bender LGAs and made up of Mbala, Isuochi, Bende, Uzuakoli, Isuikwuato and Uturu Police divisions, adding that each team was made up of civilian and police players, while the Divisional Police Officers, DPO were team Managers.
Reacting on the competition, the State Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Mohammed Bala expressed his excitement over the competition.
Speaking after addressing his Officers and Men, the CP commended ACP Okoyen for the initiative, stating that the gesture, which will now be an annual event was based on the vision of the Force in the spirit of Police/community partnership.
According to the CP, this will go a long way to foster a robust relationship between the police and the communities within the Area Command, assuring that he will make an impact in the next edition of the competition.
At the end of the tournament played early this week, Mbala team won Uzuakoli by 7-6 through penalty shootout, after the game ended 0-0 at full time.
Isuikwuato came third at the tournament, while the Most Valuable Player and the Highest Goal Scorer received prizes.
In their separate speeches, an excited teacher at Eluama Isuikwuato Secondary School, Mrs. Confidence Onwugharam and the Vice Chairman, home branch of Eluama community, Mr. Christian Onyemaechi Anaedu expressed their joy at the initiative of the Area Commander, describing the competition as a good one, and pleaded that the competition should be made annual event.
Many football talent hunters were at the event.
