I never ordered policemen back to barracks – Enugu CP disowns viral signal

 

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police has refuted an alleged order asking policemen to return to the barracks with immediate effect.

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 an alleged signal by the Commissioner of Police to all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Heads of Department, and Heads of Tactical Units in the State.

“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.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo had, while reacting to the said order, demanded the immediate removal of the CP.

However, when contacted, the DSP Daniel Ndukwe, Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, described the purported order as unfounded, false, misleading and mischievous.

The statement issued by the Command reads, “Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of a viral social media message and picture of a purported Police Wireless Message, stating that the Command’s authority has ordered its personnel to ‘desert the street, their offices, duty posts and remain confined to barracks due to prevalent security challenges facing the entire State’.

“It, therefore, wishes to categorically state that the report is not only unfounded, false and misleading, but clearly the handiwork of mischief-makers, seeking for avenues to cause panic amongst the peace-loving citizens of the State.

“Consequently, it is important to state, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Commissioner of Police did not at any point issue such orders, directing personnel of the Command to abandon their duties and be confined to barracks, as purported and being circulated, neither did he delegate any of his immediate lieutenants to issue same.

“It is also very important to clarify that the Nigeria Police Force remains a fully regimented agency of government, with clear and defined channels of internal and external communication. Hence, would not have relayed a message meant for internal to its external audience, as being circulated on social media.

“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani has enjoined the citizenry to disregard such baseless narrative, while reiterating that the Command remains focused and committed to professionally discharge its duties on a daily basis, in line with the statutory mandates of the Nigeria Police Force.”