The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, on Tuesday, launched Operation Restore Peace, a special security operation for the South East geo-political zone, Nigeria.
The Operation RP launched at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu as disclosed by Usman Baba is in compliance to the President of Nigeria’s directive to the Nigeria Police
Operation RP is designed to restore peace and security in the zone by stemming the tide of violence and criminal activities.
“The Nigeria Police is determined to restore peace and order where they are threatened and protect the citizens from all forms of threats to their lives and property,” Baba said.
The Police Chief further revealed, “The President’s directive is not for only the South East but across the nation”.
“The Operation RP in Enugu is the first in the line-up of our strategic plans to restore peace and order across the country; in days to come, the special operation will be extended to other parts of the country to address the challenges of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery”.
The Acting IGP then appreciated individual and collective efforts of the South East governors in supporting the police stating that all such positive efforts will change the current narrative in the zone for good.
In his welcome address, the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi expressed, “I am optimistic that this exercise will herald the rejigging and re-tooling of the Internal Security Architecture in the South East geopolitical zone to bring it up to speed with emerging dimensions of criminality”.
Ugwuanyi further stated, “The primary purpose of government is the security and welfare of the people, as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution and in pursuant to this leadership responsibility, we have strengthened our Neighbourhood Watch Associations, established Enugu State Forest Guards, which was a novel initiative of the South East Governors’ Forum, and provided security patrol vehicles and communication gadgets to support the security agencies in our state”.
“We have institutionalized functional collaboration between our Neighbourhood Watch groups, Forest Guards and security agencies especially in the area of intelligence sharing”
“Enugu State Security Trust Fund Law is in place to ensure sustainable funding for security agencies in our state.
“Also, the deployment of our Automated Drone Surveillance Solution to give the needed impetus to our security surveillance is underway”.
Having stated this, Ugwuanyi assured the Acting IGP and his team of his administration’s unflinching co-operation and support.
Present at the launch is the Deputy Governors of Ebonyi State, Imo State, Abia State and Enugu State; Anambra State was represented by CP Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba (Rtd).
Also present are top security officers; Deputy Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police of various states, Heads of other Security Agencies.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu State, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, other EXCO members and HRH Igwe Emma Ugwu of Ibagwa Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area, were also among the dignitaries at the event.
