By Kassim Omomia
The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba has flagged off a new special operational action plan code-named “OPERATION RP” for the stabilization of security order in the South-East Geopolitical Zone of the country.

The IGP stated at the launching of the special operation, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, that the special operation would return the southeast region to its historical path of peace.

He explained that historically the South-Eastern region and its people have been known to be peaceful, tolerant, innovative, industrious, and entrepreneurial, hence 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.

Absence of AG stalls re-arraignment of 7 persons for alleged abduction

Baba expressed concern that the activities of the group in the region have assumed an armed 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 observed is in addition to deepening inter-ethnic prejudice and intolerance, unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence, loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.

While appreciating the individual and collective efforts of all the South-East Governors and other critical stakeholders in the region towards supporting the Police in restoring security and strengthening national unity,  the IGP assured the nation, that in the coming days the special operation will be extended to other parts of the South-East region to confront criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps and re-order cherished national values in the region.

Absence of AG stalls re–arraignment of 7 persons for alleged abduction)

According to him,  “Operation RP” will 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” he added while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the new outfit and soliciting for public support

Meanwhile, Executive Governor of Enugu State,  Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commended the IGP for initiating the special operation and  described the operation as timely

According to the Governor, the new outfit will help in rejigging and re-tooling the security architecture of the South-East.