▪︎Says special operation would return region to its historical peaceful path
The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba has flagged-off a new special operational action plan code-named “OPERATION RP” for the stabilization of security and order in the Southeast geopolitical sone of the country.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba, the IGP launched the special operation, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu as part of efforts targeted at returning the Southeastern region to its historical pride of place where its people were known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial.
Mba said the IGP noted that the special operation had become necessary to engender all-inclusive security actions to roll-back the murderous attacks, violence, proliferation of weapons and other threats to law and order occasioned by the separatist agenda being heightened by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the South-East region.
The IGP observed that activities of the group in the region had assumed an armed dimension in which important political and community leaders as well as operatives and assets of the Nigeria Police, Military and other security agencies, critical national infrastructure were being constantly targeted in clearly well-coordinated, premeditated manner.
The IGP added that this was in addition to deepening inter-ethnic prejudices and intolerance, unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence, loss of lives and massive destruction of property.
The IGP, while appreciating the individual and collective efforts of all the Southeast governors and other critical stakeholders in the region towards supporting the Police in restoring security and strengthening national unity, assured the nation, that in the coming days the special operation would be extended to other parts of the Southeast region to confront criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps and re-order the nation’s cherished national values in the region.
The IGP further noted that the “Operation RP” would be replicated in other parts of the country, to address peculiar crimes including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism, among others.
The “Operation” will be carried out by operatives of the Force in collaboration with the Armed Forces, the intelligence community and other sister security agencies.
The operatives deployed have been charged to be civil with law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements operating under any guise whatsoever who may attempt to test the collective will of the people.
Host and Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, commended the IGP for initiating the special operation.
He described the operation as timely, and believed it would help in rejigging and re-tooling the security architecture of the Southeast.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States, traditional rulers, and religious leaders, among others.
Meanwhile, the IGP thanked the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for approving the special operation and providing the support needed to fully achieve the objects of the special operation.
He solicited the full support of the civil populace, particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals,etc., expressing his belief that with the support of all strategic stakeholders, the operation would, in due course, change the current security narratives in the Southeastern region for good.
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