Ministers, National Assembly members, federal appointees and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) from the Southeast and Southsouth may not be accompanied by police escort while travelling home following the increased attacks against security agents.
The Nation reported that the signal which emanated from the Delta State Police Command, have been endorsed by police authorities.
Police officers were advised not to accompany their principals to Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states until the security situation improves.
In the wireless message with the reference CB: 0900/DTS/DOPS/VOL.47/812X and title “Attack on policemen, snatching of rifles by IPOB”, the Chief Security Officer, Government House; Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Operations, Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission; Delta House of Assembly; Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) annex and many others were copied.
It read;
“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 disclosed 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 premilinary 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.
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).”
