IG orders stop and search on roads nationwide

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase has directed the commencement of special ‘stop and search’ operation on roads and highways across the country.

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, said in a statement issued in Abuja, that the directive was sequel to an intelligence report before the IGP.

“Sequel to the intelligence report, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has directed the commencement of special stop and search on Roads and Highways nationwide.

“The general public is advised to cooperate with Police operatives, by providing answers to questions that may be asked, as well as allowing their vehicles to be searched,” he said.

He stressed that during the operation, emphasis would be placed on roads in and out of major cities and towns.

He enjoined citizens to bear with the Police during the operation, which would be a temporary measure to address the issues contained in the intelligence report.

Abayomi said the measure was in no way a return of roadblocks in the country,and therefore urged citizens to report to the nearest police station unprofessional conduct by any police personnel.

In another development, the Federal Road Safety Commission has appealed to the Anambra Government to check refuse dumping along the Onitsha-Owerri road.

The FRSC Sector Commander in Anambra, Mr Sunday Ajayi, told the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday in Onitsha that the state of the dump site was not acceptable.

“It is not acceptable; however, I know that the state government had started building a fence there.

“But the plight of motorists and other road users that spend close to an hour to pass through that particular location should be considered.

“I appeal to the government to facilitate the completion of the fencing and make an in-road for the trucks dumping refuse.”

“In other states with refuse dump sites along the road, it is well fenced-off from the road,” Ajayi said.

Ajayi also appealed to motorists plying the section of the road leading to Onitsha metropolis to be patient, until a solution was found.