Acting Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali on Tuesday ordered policemen to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements and secessionists who attempt to test their will.
He spoke against the background of a breakdown of security in many parts of the country.
In the Southeast and Southsouth, policemen are being killed in attacks on their stations, which are also most of the time burnt.
Policemen on checkpoint are being wantonly killed by gunmen.
The Owerri correctional centre was attacked and inmate freed.
The violent activities of the separatist body the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have heightened.
In the Southwest, the voice of separatists have grown louder with Prof. Banji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho, spearheading it.
Yesterday in Enugu, the acting IG launched special operation codenamed Operation Restore Peace (Operation RP) at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu, the state capital.
Alkali said: “You are charged to be civil with the law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements and secessionists that may attempt to take the risk of testing your will or threatening the citizens within your area of jurisdiction.
“In furtherance to the goals of this special operation, I charge you to henceforth, defend yourselves courageously against any armed group that attempts to attack you, any police assets, and other critical national infrastructure.”
The IG advised the police officers and men on the special operation to see their deployment as a call to national duty.
On expectations, he said: “First, to stabilise the security order in the Southeast in the shortest possible time. Second, to be professional in your conduct as you strive to attain this objective.”
Alkali said: “The zone in recent years has been witnessing increasing cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence.
“This trend has of late been laced with inter-ethnic intolerance and separatist agitation as championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“The separatist agenda of this group has assumed an armed dimension in which important political and community leaders, as well as personnel and assets of the Nigeria Police, military and other security agencies, are being constantly targeted in clearly well-coordinated, premeditated violent attacks in the region.
“Aside from this, the deepening inter-ethnic prejudice and intolerance in the region are also occasioning unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence.
