We’ll deal with those planning to disrupt Buhari’s Ebonyi visit, say police

The Ebonyi police command on Monday warned the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and political parties’ supporters against disruptive acts during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit on Tuesday.

Titus Lamorde, commissioner of police in the state, gave the warning in an interview with NAN in Abakaliki.

He said the command was well equipped to deal with all forms of security challenges before, during and after the president’s visit.

According to Lamorde, any individual or group of persons that foment trouble before, during and after the visit would be severely dealt with.

“I will not disclose the number of personnel we have drafted for security reasons, but I assure citizens that enough personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure a hitch-free visit,” he said.

“The president’s visit is a welcome development as the citizens should cooperate with security agencies to make it a successful one.”

He said his officers had been adequately trained to relate well with the citizens during the visit and advised people to conduct their activities within the confines of the law.

“We would not meddle in political issues as security outfit, but the visit is developmentally-oriented because of the numerous projects the president would inaugurate,” he said.

“My officers would not intimidate or harass individuals or groups as the duty of ensuring a hitch-free event is a collective one.”

IPOB members have asked Buhari to steer clear of the state while the rivalry between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) members, had heightened prior to the visit.