The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, has flagged off a new special operational action plan code-named Operation Restore Peace (OPERATION RP) for the stabilization of security order in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country.
The IGP launched Operation Restore Peace, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, “as part of the 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,” Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police and Force Public Relations Officer, said in a release.
In his speech, the IGP declared that the special operation had become necessary in order “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.”
The IGP observed that “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 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, IGP Usman 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 our cherished national values in the region.”
The IGP further noted that the 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.
Meanwhile, 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, as well as anybody who may attempt to test the collective will of the people.
The IGP’s host, also the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, commended IGP Usman for initiating the special operation, describing the initiative as “timely” adding that it would help in rejigging and re-tooling the security architecture of the South-East. Other dignitaries at the event are; the Deputy Governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States, traditional rulers, religious leaders, amongst others.
Meanwhile, the IGP thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the special operation and providing the support needed to fully achieve the objectives of the special operation.
He solicited the full support of the civil populace, particularly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals, among others, and expressed the belief that with the support of all strategic stakeholders, the operation will, in due course, achieve its main objective and change the current security narratives in the South Eastern region for good.