Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has urged security operatives in Imo State to exterminate those described as the “enemies” of the state.
The IGP on Tuesday gave the order when he was inaugurating 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Imo State Government to aid the fight against banditry.
Usman maintained that Imo State was strategic for the federal government and in the economy of the South-East Zone, therefore, the security operatives must ensure they rid of all enemies of the state.
He said that the procurement of APCs would serve as a morale booster for his men in fighting criminals in the state.
“With utmost professionalism and absolute synergy among security agencies in the fight against criminality, the people believe unwarranted attacks by criminals will soon be brought to the bearest minimum in Imo State. So, do everything to wipe out enemies of the state in Imo State,” he said.
Usman had on April 18, 2021 while inaugurating “Operation Restore Peace” also declared war on Biafran agitators at the wake of Imo Prison jailbreak and other violent crimes in the South-East and South-South regions and ordered their killing.
He had told the Police Mobile Force and the Special Tactical Squad of the Force, unequivocally that they should not adhere to the rules of engagement when they are dealing with the Biafran secessionist groups, promising that his job was to protect them.
“Don’t mind the media shout, do the job I command you. If anyone accuse 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 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,” he had said.
The ordered however, escalated insecurity the South-East region and some parts of South-South region with the security agencies especially the police, army and the Department of State Services (DSS) accused of committing genocide against South-East youths especially in Imo and Anambra states.
