As the Inspector General of police (IGP), Bala Usman launches Operation Restore Peace in the South-east geo political zone which Imo state is part of, residents of the state have urged him to put in place a true peace initiative that would end insecurity in the region rather than an unfriendly one that would see the police lock horns with residents on a daily basis.
A businessman, who lent his voice to this, Anayo Ukomadu, lamented that the state has greatly suffered and lost lives in the last one and half months due to mismanagement of security matters by security agencies, especially the police and called for a change of approach to bring about the desired peace.
He further said, “the real or genuine peace approach rather than intimidation of residents or pulling the trigger anyhow is what will make the Peace Restoration successful.”
Another resident, Nnamdi Okoronta noted that the relationship between Imo residents and police has gone soar and therefore should need professional approach to mend the already battered fences.
He traced the unpalatable relationship from the period the police, especially the Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) held sway and allegedly dealt with innocent youth, duping, detaining and killing them at will and urged the IGP to ensure that real peace rather than pieces was restored in the region.
“The police should engage the people in real discussions and withdraw their bullets to achieve it. They have to convince them on how to achieve the peace and then everything will naturally fall into place if the IGP really means business,” he said.
Okoronta made it clear that the issue of “raiding at will any spot in the state” or “shooting at sight” as earlier directed must be jettisoned if the Peace Restoration must be successful. And that all residents must not be seen as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) or terrorists and risk or face arrest.
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