Policemen posted to the South East are seeking redeployment following the spate of killings of security operatives in the region, Daily Trust on Sunday has learnt.
Tens of policemen have lost their lives in several attacks on police formations across the South East as the region has recorded more than fifty attacks on security formations and killings of operatives in the South East by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, in recent times.
Most of the cities in the region have also become a ghost town as businesses are forced to close early to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, at least seven policemen are facing an orderly room trial for deserting their duty posts in Imo State.
There are strong indications that policemen attached to the Imo State Police Command are currently seeking to be redeployed out of the state following a series of attacks on security personnel by suspected members of ESN, the paramilitary wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Some of the policemen are seeking help from both serving and retired senior police officers as well as from their political godfathers.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the officers are seeking to be deployed to Investigating units such as the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, and special Squad.
It was also learnt that the affected personnel are currently meeting with their contacts within and outside the state and are willing to pay for their prayers to be granted.
While some senior officers believe that the officers should remain in the state to tackle the insecurity, others have already reached out to the police high command in a bid to facilitate the deployment.
A senior police officer who did not wish to be named said he turned down several of such appeals, insisting that those seeking redeployment also sought to be transferred from the North East in a bid to escape from the Boko Haram insurgency in the area.
“If they all leave, who will stay back to help the Command restore peace in the state?” he asked.
“They should remain. After all, they enjoyed it when it was peaceful,” he said.
It was learnt that some of the officers based their request on the need to be reunited with members of their families.
Moving from Garki, in Enugu South Local Government Area to Camp in Enugu North, and heading to the New Market through Trade Fair Complex areas in Trans-Ekulu to Nike Lake Hotel, in Enugu East Local Government Area – all within the state capital – there is no security check-point on any of the roads.
This is unlike in the past when security check-points were mounted for stop-and-search exercises on motorists.
The roads and streets of Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, are lacking uniformed policemen and the usual security check-points. This is not unconnected with the hike in violent attacks on security men and formations in the zone.
It was also observed that police personnel no longer move about freely in their uniform.
“The fear of attack from unknown armed men is the beginning of wisdom now,” said a female police officer.
Mr Amuche Ani, a taxi driver, said the development is a welcome one as he no longer gives out money grudgingly to security men at check-points.
But a passenger, Mrs Amaka Ugwu, quickly interjected: “What you are calling a good development now may turn a bad one tomorrow when armed men will probably attack you and your family and there will be no official security men to call for rescue.
“The situation is as bad as that. We should discourage attacks on security men and their formations. Also, security men should stop killing our youths,” she said.
The same scenario was observed in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State as most checkpoints have been abandoned with no personnel to man them.
A resident who does not want to be named said, “I can confirm to you that there are no checkpoints in Aba again.
“The policemen have all deserted over the fear of possible killings by unknown gunmen. Policemen no longer patrol again.”
Our correspondent observed that most policemen now go to work wearing mufti. They only dress in their official uniforms when they get to their offices. It was also noted that policemen now use unbranded vehicles to effect an arrest and carry out other operations in the state.
Military checkpoints are also deserted, especially in the evening.
Daily Trust
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