The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Falaye Sunday Olalaye has allayed fears that gunmen will not allow the 2023 elections to hold in the state.
He made this known while speaking with the press after taking over from the outgoing Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, CP Aliyu Garb in Abakaliki, the State Capital.
This assurance is coming against the alleged threats recently issued by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simeon Ekpa ordering for a total ‘Lockdown and Curfew in Biafraland” from February 23 to 28, 2023 to disrupt the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections in the region, vowing that there would be no election in the South-East.
CP Falaye stated that the Sit-at-order was an empty threat, adding, “as a professional officer, our plan is not meant for the public, but that threat is an empty one, because people will freely move out to do their businesses, to come out during the elections and exercise their franchise as I earlier said.”
He assured that the Command would ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming 11th March and 25th February general elections in the state to enable eligible voters exercise their franchise.
The new CP however, promised to run an open door policy with the assurance that all political parties and citizens of the state would enjoy the service of his office indiscriminately.
He insisted that “the police belong to everybody. Is it possible for somebody to dominate the national Police, it’s not possible. The police belong to everybody. Let me assure you that the police are for everybody because we are friends, and we need your assistance and cooperation.”
Olalaye further expressed his readiness to ensure every Ebonyi citizen enjoys maximum security while undertaking his or her lawful activities in the state.
Reacting on whether his office would work with the recently disbanded Ebubeagu Security Operatives by the Federal High Court Abakaliki, following the varied nervousness coming from Ebonyi citizens, Olalaye insisted that he would operate according to the existing law throughout his stay in the state.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Ebonyi CP Garba Aliyu was of the view that his departure from the state left him with no regrets.
