Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, comprising Ebonyi, Cross River and River States, AIG Musa Kimo, has declared that the force has launched Operation PUFF ADDER in Ebonyi State geared towards curbing intra-communal crisis in the area.
Speaking during the inauguration at the police headquarters, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday, AIG Kimo called on Stakeholders/Leaders of Thought to join hands with the Police to ensure the success of the operation.
He said stakeholders’ support became necessary because the operation by the way it was designed depends on the people in various communities to achieve its objective.
According to him, “The cooperation of stakeholders would include giving police adequate information that would lead to tracking and prosecuting perpetrators of evil acts in the state.
He opined, “The recent killings in Ikwo Local Government Area of the state by suspected warlords from their counterparts in Izzi Local Government Area was worrisome, the two warring communities of Alike-Ikwo and Enyigba should sheath their swords.”
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AIG Kimo said the operation was a resonance of intelligence-driven policy and community intelligence strategy for the purpose of crime control insisting that the operation would assist the police to identify and arrest criminals in Ebonyi State.
Earlier, in his speech, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Awoshola Awotunde, urged Ebonyi State communities to stop pilling arms and adopt dialogue when issues arise.
In his contribution, a stakeholder, Apostle Emma Mbam from Alike-Ikwo (one of the warring communities) said the problem was mainly exhibition of nonchalant attitude of stakeholders from the area.
He advocated that stakeholders should live up to expectations and not allow miscreants buy ammunition to cause mayhem in the society.
He decried the false information given to the police and government and called for a private meeting were the secrets behind the killings will be unveiled.
AIG Kimo reiterated that Ebonyi State was acknowledged as a peaceful state with rich cultural heritage stressing that such cultural practices be adopted to end the crisis.
