Segun Atanda/
Ten units of Nigeria’s elite mobile police squad were deployed in Abia today by the Inspector General of Police, as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) gave the newly-appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) a baptism of fire.
Led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Taiwo Lakanu, Newsmakers exclusively gathered that the special squad was mandated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to restore order in Abia where IPOB members allegedly razed a police station and attacked officers today.
There were reports that the militants also attacked the official quarters of the CP, where some vehicles were allegedly torched.
Apparently the IGP squad is taking over from soldiers who have agreed to withdraw from Aba and Umuahia, the state capital today.
The new CP, Mr Anthony Ogbizi, who replaces Mr Leye Oyebade, called on residents to embark on profitable ventures and ensure peace in the state.
He condemned the burning of Ariaria Police Station, in Aba, and expressed his resolve to work hard to make Abia safe for all.
Oyebade at the handing over ceremony warned against clamour for disintegration of the country. He said that there would never be “a republic within a republic”.
Oyebade had earlier thanked IGP Idris for the opportunity to serve in the state.
He urged officers in Abia to give the new CP maximum support and cooperation to enable him tackle crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and child trafficking.
Oyebade’s tenure as CP witnessed many accomplishments in crime fighting which he had always ascribed to the cooperation he was receiving from Abia people. He was known to have contained the militants, smashed notorious gangs and ended the reigns of many kidnap-kingpins.
Abia State governor, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, told reporters today that the soldiers have agreed to withdraw.
The troops were deployed to the state for a military exercise tagged Operation Python Dance II.
The exercise, however, escalated tensions in the state and resulted in clashes between members of the secessionist group and soldiers.
Ikpeazu, in his address, urged IPOB members to desist from perpetrating violence, spreading falsehood and also to abstain from carrying out street protests.
He said that he would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to “discuss possible ways” to draw back on the Operation Python Dance II exercise.
Idris had earlier today briefed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the outbreak of violence in some parts of Abia.
After the briefing, he told State House Correspondents that the police would adopt a three-pronged approach to resolve the crisis.
He said, “The strategy we are using is to ensure that we deploy policemen throughout the country.
“Secondly, we are in touch with the government.
“We are trying to mobilize the political leadership to be able to intervene where necessary in how to reduce the tension that is already taking place in the South East.”
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