South-East Security : IGP Flags-Off ‘Operation Restore Peace’ In Enugu |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on Tuesday, launched a new operational action plan code-named “OPERATION RP” for the stabilization of security order in the South-East Zone of the country.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, stated that the ceremony took place at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.

The IGP announced that it was part of efforts targeted at returning the South-Eastern region to its historical pride of place where its people are known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious and entrepreneurial.

He explained that the special operation has 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.

According to him, activities of the group in the region have assumed dangerous dimension in which important political and community leaders, as well as personnel and assets of the Nigeria Police, Military and other security agencies, critical national infrastructure are being constantly targeted in clearly well-coordinated, premeditated manners.

This, he said, was in addition to deepening inter-ethnic prejudice and intolerance, unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence, loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.

The IGP, commended the individual and collective efforts of the South-East Governors and other critical stakeholders  towards supporting the Police in restoring security and strengthening national unity.

He assured that in the coming days, the special operation would be extended to other parts of the South-East region to confront criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps and re-order the cherished national values in the region.

The IGP also promised that the “Operation RP” would be replicated in other parts of the country, to address peculiar crimes including banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, amongst 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 personnel deployed have been charged to be civil with the 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.”

In his remarks, the host Governor, of Enugu State, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, commended the IGP for initiating the special operation.

He described the operation as timely, noting that it would help in rejigging and re-tooling the security architecture of the South-East.