The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, granted many demands made by the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in order to maintain the region's reputation as one of Nigeria's safest and least violent.
Yesterday, hundreds of members of the Eha-Amufu community in Enugu State's Isi-Uzo local council calmly protested the continuous violence in their area in Abuja.
During his speech at the inauguration of the 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Ekwegbe in Igbo-Etiti local council built by his administration within the week, Ugwuanyi asked the IGP, who presided over the ceremony, to seriously consider sending Special Forces of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to Enugu State to help with tackling security challenges in his state.
The governor also requested that more troops be dispatched to the No. 76 Police Mobile Force in order to increase its manpower and firepower.
Additionally, he requested that the IGP summon back the personnel of the No. 3 Police Mobile Force who are now on special assignment in various areas of the nation. This, according to him, "will further reinforce its manpower base and enhance its capabilities to combat crime."
The governor requested the purchase of more armoured personnel carriers (APC), helmets, bulletproof vests, and other defensive gear to let Police officers immediately face and contain unrepentant criminal elements.
He advised the Police Chief to investigate if a drone unit was necessary, claiming that it would aid the police in fighting crime, particularly in areas with difficult policing terrain.
In support of his assertion, Ugwuanyi cited Section 14 sub-section 2(b) of the Nigerian constitution (as amended), which states that his administration "has continued to support and encourage the security agencies in the state, especially the Police Force, in their onerous duty of providing security."
IGP Baba congratulated the governor for the outstanding initiative in his remarks and said it would help the Police Force operate more effectively.
He commended the Squadron for having "improved facilities" for the NPF officers and soldiers to do their duties.
IGP Baba gave Ugwuanyi's wishes consideration and even added further steps to express his appreciation. "I will provide you with body armour, helmets, and most importantly, one APC" (Armoured Personnel Carriers). After the holiday break, these items will be available for pickup.
“We just established the drone section, and we are battling to make it work. As soon as we have established the one in the headquarters effectively, we will see how we can decentralise and if I am on this seat, Enugu will be the first place to be considered,” the Police Chief stated.
Since 2021, many attacks on Eha-Amufu have resulted in the deaths of more than a hundred locals.
Protesters held signs reading, among other things, “Eha-Amufu and communities sack from their home,” “The life of Eha-Amufu people matter, stop the killings,” “PMB, save our community, end the ethnic cleansing,” and “Eha-Amufu people now killed daily.”
While speaking to reporters, Eha-Amufu Peoples’ Forum Chairman IfeanyiChukwu Casmir blamed the killings on the underground activities of certain unidentified armed herders.
According to him, the current wave of violence began on December 7, 2020, when unidentified assailants waylaid a truck on the Eha-Amufu-Nkalagu route and slaughtered its driver and passengers.
Casmir demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari send in the military to prevent retaliation attacks, pointing out that the perpetrators of the heinous act were not members of their community.
He claimed that on December 8, 9, 18, and 19, armed herders raided Eha-Amufu in retaliation for the truck incident, killing everybody they came across and setting homes on fire.
They demanded that the sitting GOC of the 82nd Army Division in Enugu be replaced immediately by someone more qualified. They asked the president to provide such a directive to the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the National Security Adviser.
Further, the forum requested that the President “order key agencies, including National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to swiftly visit Eha-Amufu with remedies to the humanitarian catastrophe created by the attacks.”
To this, they added, “The president should direct the Police and the DSS to investigate thoroughly the killings involving truck passengers in Eha-Amufu on December 7 and take appropriate action or actions; speedily find and arrest the attackers and those behind the attacks in Eha-Amufu on December 8, 9, 18 and 19.
“Direct relevant authorities, including National Boundary Commission to speedily visit Eha-Amufu and resolve once and for all the subsisting land issues between Eha-Amufu and the Benue communities on the one hand, and between the Fulani groups and Eha-Amufu on the other.”