“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has issued a stern warning to MASSOB and
IPOB activists to stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law. The warning
followed the observation by the Nigeria Police Force leadership of the increasing resort to acts of
brigandage by sets of misguided individuals who apparently are hiding under the cloak of Movement
for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) to threaten national security and public peace in parts of South East geopolitical Zone and
some other conterminous States.
“The latest manifestation of this threat is the attempt to blockade the Onitsha end of Niger Bridge on
1st December, 2015, an action that caused major hardship to innocent and law abiding motorists, and
citizens. The act also occasioned serious dislocation of business activities.
“The Inspector-General of Police notes that the increasing resort to acts of brigandage of this nature
is pointing to a clear attempt by the brains behind these protests to test the will of security agencies to
restore order and guarantee internal cohesion.
“For the avoidance of doubts, the IGP further notes, the restoration and maintenance of law and
public order, and protection of lives and property remain sacred and statutory Mandate of the Nigeria
Police. This Mandate, according to him, shall be fully executed in the overriding interests of the
nation and vast majority of citizens and residents of the South East geopolitical Zone.
“Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the mobilisation and deployment of
Police Mobile Force (PMF) across the country to reinforce security in the State Commands that
MASSOB and IPOB are currently attempting to utilise as launching pad for their sinister intentions.
“The Assistant Inspectors – General of Police Zone 5, (Benin); Zone 6, (Calabar) and Zone 9
(Umuahia) as well as all Commissioners of Police in the affected States in the South East and
neigbouring States have also been directed to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory Mandate
in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that threatens public order and national
cohesion.
“Any person or group of persons so arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of this order will be
made to face the full wrath of the law.
“To this end, the Inspector-General of Police advises parents and guardians to call their children and
wards to order as the patience of the Force is being stretched to the limit. He firmly affirmed that no
individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation and that democratic values provide
for exploration of rule of law to advance any concern, not the resort to endless and misguided acts of
brigandage, unless there is an ulterior motive as the extant instance tends to dictate.
“He concluded by asserting that the Nigeria Police Force will not fold its law enforcement arms to
allow few misguided elements to continually force hardships on fellow Nigerians either in the South
East or any other part of the nation for that matter.”
About The Nigerian Blogger
0 comments :
Post a Comment