Police ask Imo residents to disregard IPOB’s sit-at-home order

The Imo police command has told residents to disregard the three-day sit-at-home directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB reportedly issued the directive for the south-eastern states in commemoration of its Biafran Day on May 30.

In a statement on Wednesday, Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo, said the order was “unlawful”.

He said Aboki Danjuma, the commissioner of police in the state, has strategically deployed security operatives to all nooks and crannies to ensure public safety.

“The commissioner of police Imo state command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has urged the law-abiding residents of the state to disregard the unlawful and deleterious three days sit-at-home order imposed by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN),” the statement reads.

“And go about their lawful businesses without any form of fear or intimidation as the command in synergy with other security agencies has emplaced adequate security measures to evade any threat of attack by any insurgent group.

“Joint security operatives drawn from  the police, military, civil defense, road safety, immigration and fire service have been massively deployed to embark on confidence-building patrol and operation show of force across the 27 LGAs of the state, to ensure public safety.”

Okoye warned those intending to disrupt the peace of the state to desist as anyone caught would face the full wrath of the law.

He urged residents to report any suspicious person or activities to the police.

“The command, therefore, is using this medium to warn anybody intending to destabilize the improved peace and security in the state by attempting to enforce the illegal sit-at-home order to better have a rethink as anyone caught in the act will be made to face full wrath of the law,” Okoye said.

“The commissioner of police calls on ‘Ndi Imo’ to be security conscious and swiftly report any suspicious person seen or clandestine activity observed within their vicinity to the nearest police station or via the command’s emergency lines 08034773600 or 08098880197.”