•Reorders security in South-South, launches ‘Operation Restore Peace’
Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, has launched the new special security action plan, tagged ‘Operation Restore Peace’, in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria, with a directive given to police.operatives to defend themselves and innocent citizens from suspected criminal elements.
The IGP, who flagged-off the special operation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at the Sharks Football Stadium, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that the move was a continuation of the implementation process of the special operation in the country.
According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, Alkali further noted that the operation in the South-South region was also targeted at stemming the tide of violent attacks and breakdown of law and order.
Again, the operation would be used to curtail the heightened threats to lives and property, being allegedly caused by the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other criminal elements in the region.
Mba said that the IGP condemned the increased cases of kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, economic sabotage and other threats to public safety bedevilling the region.
These crimes, the police chief observed, were added to series of violent attacks on security personnel and formation in the region.
He however expressed belief that the new special operation action plan would re-order and stabilise security in the South-South region, noting that personnel deployed for the operation had been charged to courageously and fiercely defend themselves and innocent citizens, as well as critical national infrastructure against any arms-bearing criminal group or elements.
“The IGP appreciated the executive governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Nyesom Wike, other South-South governors, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders and other state actors in the region, for their individual and collective efforts toward supporting the police and the law enforcement community in achieving a safe, secure and peaceful south-south region,” the FPRO said.
Alkali also assured that the new special operation would provide an all-inclusive front to confront criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps and re-order the cherished national values of peace and unity in the region.
Governor Wike, who was represented by his deputy, affirmed the zero tolerance of the state government to crimes and criminality in the state.
He commended the IGP for the initiative, pledging support of the state government for the success of ‘Operation Restore Peace’, particularly in the state and the South-South region, and generally in the country.
Other dignitaries at the flag-off programme included representatives of other governors of the South-South states, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among others.
The IGP enjoined citizens in the South-South region to give full support to security personnel throughout the period of the operation and beyond.
He re-affirmed that the operation would be people-driven, human-rights focused, but ruthless on criminal elements, Mba stated further.
