From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, issued a red card to criminals masquerading as freedom fighters in the South East geopolitical zone, declaring that their end was near.
Baba issued the red card in Amawbia community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he commissioned ultramodern police station and police barracks. The IGP said the individuals killing and burning properties of the residents of the region were just criminal elements masquerading as freedom fighters.
“As for the careless secessionist idea that is being advocated for unlawfully, it is like this, but it will not continue going like that. There are possible means of agitation that can take place in local means and ways.
“But the one we are experiencing is not tolerable, and the government will not be intimidated by this kind of threat. Like the governor described it as criminality, I also concur that whatever these groups of people are doing is outright criminality. It is a smokescreen to say it is Biafra,” he said.
Baba, who commended the governor of the state, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, for their efforts to eliminate all forms of crime and criminality in the state, thanked Ndi Anambra for their massive support to the police.
“You have an amiable governor who is also security friendly. He is assisting us in giving you a conducive environment; an environment that is free from threat; free from preventing people from going about their lawful businesses. There is nowhere in the world that you don’t have the challenge of security, but it can be mitigated to its barest minimum for people to do their jobs. You’re on the way. Don’t relent. We’ll defeat them hands down,” he said.
The IGP said efforts were being made to address the security issues in the region. He called on the people to always assist the police with relevant information to be able to achieve the set target.
“There are challenges, particularly in the South East, of which Anambra is one. It might be the boiling point; the most or the second. But your determination to live together, to surmount these challenges is yielding results and we are behind you to make sure that anybody who is interested in ensuring that there is law and order; and people go about their normal businesses are being encouraged,” Baba said.