By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is pleading with the Police to return to their duty posts, re-restore law and order in the State.
Ugwuanyi made this appeal to officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu when he visited the Command Headquaters to commiserate with the Police over its loss of lives, sustainable of injuries, and destruction of property during the EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant, Louis Amoke, said the Governor described the mayhem unleashed by miscreants and hoodlums as “an unusual and challenging period for the Police Force”.
According to him, it was needless, and an ill-wind that blew no one any good.
“In our sensitivity to the mood and pains of the society under our watch, the state government has set up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to determine the loss of lives and other damages.
“We have also taken time to inspect the various degrees and nature of damage arising from the hijacked protests,” he said.
Ugwuanyi added that his administration earnestly awaited the recommendations of the panel, reiterating its commitment to implementing same with a view to soothing the pains of security personnel and civilians who were victims of the mayhem.
“The self-evident low morale of the Police Force occasioned by the fallout of the #EndSARS protests has, in our judgment, increased the likelihood of crime in the state.
“I, therefore, passionately implore you to fully renew your commitment to the provision of security of lives and property in the state, as was the case before the protests.
“The good people of Enugu State had, before now, enjoyed your excellent policing service and wish that you come fully on stream and return to all the security posts in the state,” he said.
While thanking the people of the state for their prayers, support and solidarity in the challenging period, Ugwuanyi equally urged them to renew their cooperation and partnership with security agencies to sustain the tempo of peace and good governance in the state.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmad Abdurrahman, thanked the governor for finding it necessary and expedient, in spite of his tight schedule, to commiserate with the command over the unfortunate fallout of the #EndSARS protests.
The CP maintained that the visit signified that “we are under a very comfortable hand and care”
Since the #EndSARS protest which claimed the lives of 22 Policemen, the razing of over 200 Police Stations, and about 80 Operational vehicles, including armoured vehicles, Police personnel, nationwide, mostly in the South, have abandoned their duty post. They are dis-spirited, and their moral is low. Most of them have, also, lost self esteem.
The appeal to them by the Inspector General of Police to go back to work, has fallen on deaf ears. Nor has the subtle threat by the Police Service Commission that they were at the risk of losing their jobs done the magic. Some other state Governors, including the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in whose state the destruction and razing of Police Stations and Barracks were most, have also appealed to them in vain.
Since their absence from their posts, crimes have increased and roads more dangerous. In the past couple of days, armed robbers have taken over the Benin-Auchi road, targeting especially those who they suspect went for bank transactions, and generally making life hell for people.
