The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate posting of a new Commissioner of Police to Anambra State as a result of the ongoing killings.
The new CP, Echeng, takes over from CP Tony Olofu who has been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP also ordered the deployment of a detachment of NPF Special Forces to Anambra State to boost and complement the Nigeria Police Operation Restore Peace in the state’s ongoing peace-building efforts.
“The IGP, who is particularly concerned with the renewed incidents of attacks on innocent individuals and symbol of State Authority in the State, ordered the new Commissioner of Police to mobilize both kinetic and non-kinetic law enforcement and crime-fighting approaches to reverse the negative trend, reclaim public spaces from hoodlums and restore public peace in the State.
“CP Echeng, who until his recent posting, was the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Bayelsa State, holds a First Degree in History from the University of Maiduguri.
“An experienced peace-builder, he received extensive training on global peace support operations at Mission Training Cell, Kielce, Poland, amongst other tactical and leadership courses.
“He has also served as a former Police Component Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Zonal CID, Zone-13, Ukpo, Anambra State, amongst other key positions.
“The IGP has charged the new Police Chief to work with other Stakeholders and patriotic forces in Anambra State to restore law and order leveraging on his professional experience.
“The IGP also called on Ndi-Anambra to support and cooperate with the new Commissioner of Police in his task of protecting the lives and property of all,” according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
The House of Representatives had earlier on Tuesday ordered the National Security Adviser and security agencies to send all required equipment to Anambra to put an end to the series of killings and attacks there.
It charged its National Security, Intelligence, and Police Affairs Committee with restoring normalcy in the state and reporting back to the house within three weeks.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Chris Azugbogu (APC, Anambra), who claimed that the killings were staged by mischief-makers seeking to create tension and panic in the state ahead of the governorship election on November 6.
