By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
Borno
State Police Command on Monday launched “Operation Puff Adder” to combat
incidences of abduction and terrorism in the troubled North East.
The state is notorious for abduction, with the number of those abducted by Boko
Haram in about a decade not officially known.
Notable among those abducted by the insurgents in the troubled state, including
over 200 Chibok schoolgirls, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s
health workers, exploratory staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) and recently a pastor and a youth corper.
Speaking during his resumption to duty, the newly posted Commissioner of Police
for Borno State, Mohammed Ndatsu said the operation specifically of the latest
operation was designed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu
to rid the country at large of all violent crimes and other forms of
criminalities.
He added that the operation was meant to mop up various categories of light
arms which have found their ways into unauthorised hands in the country.
He explained that the operation was part of deliberate measures adopted by the
Police and aimed at curbing the excesses of criminal elements hellbent on
threatening the internal security across some states of the federation.
He noted that the IGP has on Friday, 5th April 2019 launched a robust security
action plan tagged,” Operation Puff Adder” which is being carried out
in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, Department of State Service
(DSS), involves massive deployment of well trained well equipped and well
motivated personnel.
He noted that the operation is in addition to the combined operational assets
from the various security agencies which is tailored towards ridding the
country of all forms of crimes and criminalities.
Ndatsu called for the support and cooperation of the community leaders and
stakeholders, the civil populace, particularly , traditional rulers, religious
leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and
professionals among others in the fight against crimes, especially, kidnapping,
armed robbery, cattle rustling amongst others.
He said the operation was also based on the principle of community policing,
intelligence-led policing and synergy with other security agencies. It will be
characterised with convoy and mobilised patrols, stop and check operations,
raiding of criminal hideouts or identified black spots.
In the light of this, the CP said, the entire officers of the command have been
fully mobilized and “we have resolved that criminals and social miscreants will
not have a hiding place in Borno state any longer.”
He however appealed to the public to provide the police with useful information
that can expose the miscreants and their hideouts.
He revealed that the command provided the following items to facilitate smooth
take-off of the operation with the support of one of its strategic NGO partner:
300 solar power lantern with charging point, 300 heavy duty flash lights, 300
soft marts matresses, 300 mosquito nets, 300 food and water flasks, 300 pieces
of plates, spoons, blankets, slippers, toothpastes, toothbrushes, buckets, bag
packs and 50 temporary tents and 50 First Aids boxes.
On the recent abduction of a pastor of Living Faith Ministries (aka Winner
Chapel) and a youth corper along Chibok road, the commissioner said the police
came to know of the incident late.
He said the police was informed 20 days after the incident, but said the search
for them has commenced.