Two days after the acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba ordered his men to kill suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, without recourse to the rule of law, no Igbo leader has spoken in disagreement with the said archaic order.
Baba, while speaking on the sideline while addressing the Police Mobile Force and Special Tactical Squad of the Force in Enugu after launching Operation Restore Peace, directed police officers in the region not to adhere to the rules of engagement while dealing with Biafra secessionist groups, Punch reports.
He added that his job was to protect them.
“Don’t mind the media shout; do the job I command you. If anyone accuses you of human rights violation, the report will come to my table and you know what I will do. So, take the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order.
“What another order are you waiting for when Mr President had ordered you to shoot anybody carrying an AK-47 rifle? Quote me, even a dead policeman can be tried and dismissed from the force and his family will not get his benefits.
“So, don’t sit and wait for them to come; take the attack to them and don’t lose your arms to criminals,” the acting IGP said.
The acting IGP’s careless comments come after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a shoot-at-sight of anyone carrying assault rifles.
President Buhari’s shoot-at-sight order was criticised by stakeholders who saw it as an avenue for overzealous security agencies to carry out mass killing of innocent persons in the East.
While the police and the army are carrying out the order in the South East and South-South, killing tens of innocent persons and incarcerating hundreds more, they have also refused to arrest Fulani herdsmen wandering in the bush with assault rifles and killing farmers.
Baba’s reckless comment was not the first from a security chief since hoodlums began attacking police and military formations in the East.
His predecessor Adamu Mohammed had during a visit to Imo State after the sacking of the police command by hoodlums, asked them to use their weapons, a coded message urging them to kill anyone they feel was one of the hoodlums.
Standard Observers had reported that indiscriminate arrests and killing of residents in several parts of Imo state, especially Orlu, Oguta, Owerri and Ohaji have continued.
The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday said that it has activated the OPERATION SEARCH AND FLUSH, with the CP ordering his men to ‘neutralise bandits’.
Many residents of Orlu, Oguta and Ohaji have cried out over the incessant arrests and killing of their loved ones.
Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, while deploying the men, charged them to do their jobs creditably and ensure that the interest of the members of the public is paramount while discharging their duties, a statement from Ikeokwu Godson Orlando, the outgone public relations officer of the command said.
He also warned them to be swift in the response to distress calls. He also charged them to ‘neutralise any bandit seen in order to ensure that Imo State returns to its rightful place as the most peaceful state not just in the South East but the nation at large’.
The CP informed the men that the state government led by Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma has made adequate arrangement for their welfare, stating that allowance will be promptly paid, medical arrangements have been emplaced in case of any injuries in the course of the operation, and also the arrangement of logistics and equipment supports for the operation.
He, therefore, charged the men to reciprocate the gesture by provided quality Police service delivery to Imolites.
The Commissioner of Police said the teams will be posted to all the Local Government Areas in the State for crime prevention /detection patrol as well as confidence-building patrols.
He also warned the men against extorting and other corrupt practices, or any form of ineptitude, as the Command will not hesitate to activate the force disciplinary mechanisms on anyone found culpable to any unethical conduct.
Also, While admonishing the men to be professional at all times, and also be good ambassadors of the force, he tasked them to occupy the public space and ensure visibility around their duty post at all times.
Despite several open declarations by security chiefs in the East for the mass killing Igbo youths, Igbo leaders have not been forthcoming with total condemnation of such utterances.
Two days after the IGP issued such an order for mass atrocities to be carried out in their domains, the leaders have refused to condemn such tactics which will escalate the crisis.
When contacted for his comments on the latest order by the acting IGP, National Publicity Secretary of Igbo Apex Socio-Cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Alex Ogbonnia did not respond to our inquiries as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not responded to.
