The Inspector-General of Police, SOLOMON ARASE, has warned against further disruption of public peace by pro-Biafran agitators in parts of the country.
IGP ARASE specifically issued the stern warning to members of the Movement for the Survival of the Sovereign State of Biafra and the Indigenous People of Biafra to stop threatening public peace or face the full weight of the law. The Police High Command said the warning followed the observation by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force of the increasing resort to acts of brigandage by those it described as misguided individuals.The IGP said such people are hiding under the cloak of MASSOB and IPOB to threaten national security and public peace in parts of South East geopolitical Zone and some other states.He said the latest manifestation of the threat is the attempt to blockade the Onitsha end of the Niger Bridge yesterday; an action that caused major hardship to innocent and law abiding citizens.
The Inspector-General of Police said the act also occasioned serious dislocation of business activities, adding that the increasing resort to acts of brigandage pointing to a clear attempt by those behind the protests to test the will of security agencies to restore order and guarantee internal cohesion.
The police chief said for the avoidance of doubt, the restoration and maintenance of law and public order, and protection of lives and property remain sacred and statutory Mandate of the Nigeria Police.ARASE said the Police Mandate 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 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.
IGP ARASE also charged the Assistant Inspectors – General of Police for Zone 5 in Benin; Zone 6 in Calabar and Zone 9 in Umuahia to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory Mandate in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that threatens public order and national cohesion.
All Commissioners of Police in the affected States in the South East and neigbouring States have also been placed on alert and charged to arrest the drift caused by the pro-Biafran agitation. He warned that any person or group of persons arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of the order will be made to face the full wrath of the law.The Inspector-General of Police also advised parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order.He noted that the patience of the Force has been stretched to the limit, warning that no individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation.IGP ARASE said democratic values provide for exploration of rule of law to advance any concern, not the resort to endless and misguided acts of brigandage.He said 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.
The warning by the Inspector General of Police was contained in a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, OLABISI KOLAWOLE.
