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," a statement issued by acting Police PRO, Olabisi
Kolawole.
The Inspector-General of Police noted 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 noted that 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.
-PMNews
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