IGP LAUNCHES OPERATION PR TO TACKLE SOUTH EAST INSECURITY

Reporter : CHRISTIAN NWANGENE

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, has inaugurated a special security operation codenamed, “Operation PR (Restore Peace) for the South East to stem the tide of violence and criminal activities in the zone.

According to Mr. Baba, the new security operation is to address rising insecurity and secessionist agitations in the zone.

Speaking at the inauguration in Enugu, Mr. Baba said that the operation was necessitated by the need to stop inter-ethnic intolerance and agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He said that the operation was designed to bring back the cherished peace that the southeast was known for.

According to the Police Chief, the operation will boost the efforts of police to change the narrative to what the Igbo man was used to be and ensure that all lives in peace in the country.

He explained that the operation would take place simultaneously in all the states in the Southeast and expressed the hope that the operation would restore peace that the people of the zone were known for.

The Police boss, noted that the people of South Eastern Nigeria were historically known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial, adding that they were also highly respected citizens that had made their marks in the field of academics, scientific inventions and commerce.

The IGP maintained that Nigeria Police was determined to restore peace and order in areas they were threatened and also protect the citizens from all forms of threats to their lives and property.

He said that the Operation RP in Enugu was the first in the line-up of strategic plans to restore peace and order across the country.

The IGP stressed that in the coming days, the special operation would be extended to other parts of the country to address the challenges of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery.

The Police boss, urged the officers to ensure that the criminals were apprehended and brought to justice but added that the objective must be achieved through professionalism.

He pledged that the police would continue to do all within its powers to guarantee stable security across the country.

The IGP charged Police personnel to defend themselves and not allow themselves killed by hoodlums.

The Theater Commander & Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police, in-charge of the Southeast geo-political zone, Mr. Joseph Egbunike, said the people of the area were reputable for peace, stressing that peaceful environment was key to enable them carry out their duties.

Mr. Egbunike, assured the IGP that peace would be restored in the zone.

In a remark, the Enugu State Governor, Chief Ugwuanyi noted that the launch of the security operation could not have come at a better time than now given growing insecurity in the country.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would herald the rejigging and re-tooling of the internal security architecture in the South East geo-political zone to bring it up to speed with emerging dimensions of criminality.

Governor Ugwuanyi congratulated the IGP and his team for the initiative, and assured them of his administration’s co-operation and support.

The governors of Ebonyi, Imo and Abia states were represented by their deputies while their Anambra State counterpart was represented by a former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba.