On Monday the Igbo Apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has demanded the immediate removal of the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ammani.
Ohanaeze said the lives of the Enugu State residents were now in total jeopardy under the Commissioner.
The alarm followed an alleged order from the CP, asking police officers and men under various units and formations in the State to remain in their barracks until further notice.
The said order quoted by Sun Newspapers was contained in a signal by the Commissioner of Police to all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department, and Heads of Tactical Units in the State.
The signal ordered all officers and personnel in the State to remain in their barracks until further notice, warning that any official or personnel who violated the order shall be disciplined.
“Given the prevalent security situation in Enugu State, the Commissioner of Police has ordered, with immediate effect, that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department, Heads of Tactical Units in the state and the officers and personnel are, hereby, confounded to barracks until further notice.
“Any officer who violates this sworn-in shall be isolated for severe disciplinary action. Make this subject of lecture to your personnel, and confirm compliance by return signal,” the signal stated.
Within the past few weeks there have been security breaches in the State, with both residents and security personnel as victims.
It was reported that the latest was on Saturday, during which no fewer than five civilians were killed by hoodlums enforcing sit-at-home. A police patrol vehicle was also burnt in the process.
However, in an open letter to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alkali Baba Usman, Ohanaeze said any delay in the removal of the CP would spell doom for the residents of the State.
Ohanaese said in the letter signed by Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the National President of the Youth Council that “the signal in circulation means that the CP has abdicated his responsibility.
“Before now, we had earlier raised the alarm that there is a connivance between some security personnel and criminals ravaging the State in forms of kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen.
“Most of the roads in Enugu State are now safe haven for these marauders; Eha-Amufu, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area is now a shadow of itself, with thousands of residents now living in neighbouring towns as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.
“But what have we got? A Police Chief who should lead the war to the den of these hoodlums has handed over the State to the criminals by pulling his men back to the barracks.
“It is in the light of this that we prevail on you, the IGP Sir, to immediately remove the CP from Enugu State as he has shown lack of capacity to police Enugu State.
“We are sending the SOS to you on behalf of the distressed people of Enugu State whose fate now hangs in the balance.
“Boko Haram and bandits have ravaged many Northern States for over a decade now but we have never seen any CP recall his men to barracks. The directive by the Enugu CP is not only weird but unprofessional.
“The Police Service Commission should be alive to its responsibility and not let this negligence of duty slide.
“We also urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to beam their searchlight on the happenings in Enugu State, as our people are now endangered species.
“We alert the entire Nigerians and the international community that there is a looming genocide and massacre of Enugu State residents.
“Enugu is now in a total state of anarchy and the time to stop it is now,” Ohanaeze declared.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, SP Danile Ndukwe denied the existence of any such order.
“It is not possible,” Ndukwe stated, describing the said signal as “fake, malicious, mischievous and unfounded.”
