Police withdraws personnel from escorting ministers, senators, VIPs in south-east, south-south states

Police withdraws personnel from escorting ministers, senators, VIPs in south-east, south-south states

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered immediate withdrawal of personnel attached to governors, senators, public office holders and high profile persons in the south east and south south.

This was decision reached following the incessant attacks on security operatives and formations in the South-East and part of South-South zones by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Tribune reports.

The force directed its men not to accompany their principals to Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States until the security situation improves in these areas.

The directive was contained in a wireless message with reference CB: 0900/DTS/DOPS/VOL.47/812X, titled ‘Attack on policemen, snatching of rifles by IPOB,’ and issued by the Commissioner of Police, Asaba, Delta State.

 

 

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The signal was copied to the chief security officer, Government House; Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Operations; Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Delta State House of Assembly, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation annex, among others.

The wireless message reads, “Sequel to the incessant attacks on policemen and snatching of arms and ammunition by the proscribed IPOB/ESN (Eastern Security Network) elements in the Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo States and Rivers State, COMPOL DOPS directs you warn personnel that escort of their principals to the six eastern states is suspended forthwith until the security situation improves. Ensure strict compliance, please.”

Force Public Relation Officer, Frank Mba who confirmed that the signal originated from Delta State Command and was issued on the authority of the Commissioner of Police in Delta, said the step was taken to save the lives of the officers and their principals from gunmen.

Mba said; “That signal did not come from Force Headquarters, so it is not a nationwide directive.

Any reasonable person will understand that this is a very good directive.

“The Commissioner of Police acted within his powers and he gave the directives to cure certain mischief.”

The police spokesperson also disclosed that preliminary investigation has revealed that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) are behind the April 5 attack on the Imo Police Command even though they’ve denied it.

 

 

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Mba added; “Preliminary investigations have revealed that the attackers, who came in their numbers with sophisticated weapons such as general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), sub-machine guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).”