Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, referred to the South Eastern region of the country’s Biafra struggle as a “smokescreen for criminality” on Wednesday.

He issued a warning to the agitators, saying that such actions would not be tolerated by the administration.

He issued a warning to those who were agitating, saying that the government would not be frightened by their actions.

He vowed that the police under his leadership will not spare criminals hiding under the guise of agitation to attack the people.

He lamented that agitators are committing crimes in the state and the entire South East by attacking police operatives and other public facilities in the name of calling for a separate state.

“Secessionist ideas will not continue like this. There are better ways to agitate, and the government will not be intimidated by these people. This is criminality, and the agitation for Biafra is just a smokescreen for criminality,” Baba said.

While describing security as everybody’s business, he urged communities to support vigilante operatives whom he described as key in crime fighting.

The state commissioner of police received the police chief’s commitment to help maintain peace and order in the state.

A equal playing field for all politicians would be created before to the 2023 elections, he added.