Read the press statement below...
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.
Ag. ACP OLABISI KOLAWOLE
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
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