Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Barricades on major roads around police and other security facilities in Umuahia have started disappearing.
Most of the barricades were introduced in the aftermath of the nation-wide uprising against police brutality otherwise known as #EndSARS protest.
The barricades which led to the blocking of an entire lane of dual carriage roads crisscrossing some police facilities in the state, were reinforced at the peak of attacks by unknown gunmen.
Ikengaonline checks revealed that since the emergence of the new administration of Gov Alex Otti, most of the notable roadblocks around police facilities are beginning to disappear.
For instance, shortly after Otti was sworn in as Governor, the barricade which hitherto blocked one lane of Bende Road in front of the Police Headquarters Umuahia was removed.
Another barricade in front of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, headquarters, opposite Golden Guinea factory, Aba Road Umuahia, was also removed.
It was also observed that after the arrival of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, the barricade blocking one of the lanes in front of the Central Police Station, CPS, Umuahia, has been removed.
The development, has allowed for free flow of traffic in the metropolis as motorists plying the affected roads had serious difficulties driving past them as they had to take alternate routes most of the time.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the development, and said it was part of the initiatives of the new CP to make movement easy for residents.
She said that the Command had explored other security measures to safeguard police facilities in the state.
The PPRO who said that the road barricades were mounted to counter senseless attacks against police facilities by unknown gunmen, noted that normality had returned to the state, hence the dismantling of the barricades
She said that the new CP was concerned about the plight of road users, hence the removal of the barricades, but added that other security measures had already been put in place to ward off any attack against police facilities.
The PPRO, said that the police and other security agencies in the state were working in synergy to ensure the security of lives and property of residents.
She warned criminal-minded elements to steer clear from the state as anybody caught breaching public peace would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
