As the call for the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State gathers momentum, a concerned socio-political group, Enugu Peace and Development Mandate (EPDM), has lent their vioice to the campaign, stressing that it is of urgent importance in view of the current security situation in the state.
In a statement sent to Igbere TV and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ezekwume, the group said that before the removal of the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed, ahead of the last general elections, Enugu State was peaceful and ranked one of the most peaceful states in the country.
Mr. Ezekwume regretted that on assumption of office, the present Commissioner of Police, Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, dismantled security checkpoints in the state and went further to disband the effective Command Operation Unit of the Force headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police with proven track record in crime fighting and replaced the affected personnel with those who are ready to satisfy his financial demands.
“We have observed with dismay that since the coming of Balarabe as the Police Commissioner, the state has witnessed more security lapses in quick succession than ever before. This is a clear case of failure of operational intelligence on the part of police and other security agencies in the state.
It is very clear that Balarabe, who was an administrative officer before his posting to Enugu as Commissioner lacks the understanding of the rudimentary security operational modalities of the Force.
“We want our dear President Muhammadu Buhari to act urgently by redeploying the CP before it becomes too late. Enugu State is too strategic and very important to be used by any inexperienced security officer to learn work or experiment. We are convinced that further delay in removing Balarabe will further worsen the security situation in the state.
“We are aware of an allegation that the CP mandated all the Divisional Police Officers (DPO) to be making financial returns on monthly basis, a strange directive that has distracted majority of the policemen in the state from their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“With this weighty allegation, President Buhari should not only remove Balarabe, he should also direct for a properly investigation of his activities in Enugu State. Balarabe should equally be made to explain the reason behind the resurgence of insecurity in the state under his watch.
“As was recently alleged, we are calling on the leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in our state, who influenced the deployment of Mr. Balarabe to Enugu State ahead of the last elections to prevail on President Buhari to remove him in the overall interest of the people of Enugu STATE.”
Enugu CP must go!
