The Abia Police Command on Wednesday?warned?criminals still operating in the state to repent or relocate because “a total war '' has been declared against them.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ambrose Aisabor, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in?Aba.
?Aisabor said that the police had started a continuous feasibility policing in the state to respond to the security challenges.
He said that?the command's?operation “Show of Force’’ had continued and would be sustained to keep off the criminals out of the state.
He said that police had intensified the raid?on?criminals' hideouts across the state, particularly in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia and environs.
Aisabor warned?the criminals, including kidnappers and armed robbers, that, the state was no longer safe for their nefarious activities.
“You better repent or relocate before it is too late, we are battle-ready for you, especially in this coming Xmas and Yuletide celebrations.
“The crime rate goes up during the period, we have to be proactive to our responsibility in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.
“We want the criminals to leave the state to do their nefarious activities elsewhere. There is a great danger awaiting them for any attempt to cause trouble during the festive period,’’ Aisabor said.
The commissioner assured people visiting the state during the period of adequate security throughout their stay.
“We are already on top of the situation,’’ he said.
Aisabor, however, solicited for useful information on criminals and their hideouts from members of the public for a successful operation.(NAN)