IPOB sit-At-Home Order: Police Lead Army, NSCDC In Show Of Strength

In a show of straight, the Police Command in Abia on Monday led detachments of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Umuahia ahead of the IPOB sit-at-home order for Wednesday, May 30.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise took off from the Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia, at about 9 a.m. and parole round the major streets up to Ubakala and Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area back to CPS, via Bende Road.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, while speaking to newsmen, said the joint exercise was designed to reassure residents of the readiness of the security agencies to continue to protect their lives and property.

“The show of strength included men of the Police Command, the army and Civil Defence and the essence is to demonstrate our resolve to ensure that Abia residents continue to enjoy uninterrupted peace.

“We are poised to continue to sustain the prevailing peace and wish to send a signal to trouble makers, especially members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been proscribed as a terrorist group.

“We want them to know that the law will not spare them should they go ahead to disrupt the prevailing peace, which residents of the state are presently enjoying.

“So we used this opportunity to instil confidence in the people that security agencies are alive to their primary duties of protecting their lives and property.”

The Police boss therefore want the people to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation.

“Sitting at home for fear of any possible attack by IPOB members will give them a sense of victory.”

Ogbizi further urged security operatives “to be alert and vigilant” to be able to checkmate the activities of IPOB.

He alleged that the group produce Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

“If we do not respond now to nip the activities of the group in the bud, especially in producing IED, then we may be heading for doom.

He stated that some policemen were recently attacked in Aba with IED, allegedly made by IPOB, adding that the incident was currently being investigated.

“Let us have it at the back of our minds that IPOB is a violent group. We should not treat them with kid gloves.

“We should work to protect ourselves. Your lives are as important as those that you protect.”

The police commissioner stated the need for security agencies to sustain the existing synergy for mutual benefits.