BY OZO RAY, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has warned enemies of the state and emissaries of rifts circulating threatening videos and obnoxious social media materials about a purported total lockdown on 30th May to stay far away from Anambra State because the Police and all other security agencies will not tolerate any breach of the fundamental rights of the citizens especially as it concerns right to freedom of movement.
A statement from the office of the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, has authorized the citizenry to go about their normal lawful daily routines and disregard the compulsory illegal sit-at-home order from the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB had issued earlier warnings and threats of a total lockdown and compulsory stay-at-home in the entire Southeast region of Nigeria on 30th May, 2024 for the repose of the souls of fallen heroes of Biafra land which they christened Biafra Day Celebration.
But the Police in Anambra State has issued a counter order saying that there is no Biafra Day Celebration in Anambra and no compulsory stay-at-home order will be enforced in the state.
The statement from the Police Public Relations Officer reads: " The Anambra State Police Command has become cognizant of the activities of criminal elements disseminating, threatening voice-overs and violent videos in an attempt to enforce illegal sit-at-home directives and instill fear among the residents of Anambra
It is imperative to inform the public that actionable intelligence indicates that these individuals, in their bid to enforce the unlawful sit-at-home order, fabricate threatening voice-over recordings and circulate outdated videos of violent incidents, some of which did not occur within the state or even the country.
The Command is fully aware of these secessionist activities and urges the law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda. Rest assured, the Police, along with other security agencies, have mobilized law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state.
As a recent example, on May 29, 2024, at approximately 2:00 PM, Police operatives laid an ambush on miscreants along Oba flyover in Idemili South. This led to the interception of a gang of four armed men operating on motorbikes. During the encounter, one miscreant was apprehended, while the other three managed to evade capture, sustaining bullet injuries in the process. The operatives recovered a locally made Barreta pistol, four expended cartridges, two phones, and incriminating evidence indicative of unpatriotic and disloyal behavior towards the Nigerian government.
In light of these developments, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, assures the people of Anambra State that their safety remains the utmost priority of the Police Command."