UMUAHIA – Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has asked criminals operating in the state to leave or be prepared to be crushed.

This is even as the Abia gov­ernor warned security agencies in the state that his government will not condone any form of ha­rassment of innocent citizens in the name of fighting crimes and criminalities.

Speaking in Umuahia on Tues­day while officially launching the state’s security outfit codenamed, ‘Operation Crush’, Otti warned that the state would no longer share an inch of its territory with criminal elements and their sponsors, saying that criminal el­ements must leave or be crushed.

The security Initiative, accord­ing to the government, is designed to tackle crimes and insecurity in Abia State, adding that it is a strong and coordinated response to the lingering insecurity in the state which has affected lives of the people negatively.

The initiative, he further ex­plained, is in line with his prom­ise during his inauguration that there will be zero tolerance for any act of criminality in the state. He pointed out that it is a joint task­force comprising the Police, Army, Navy, DSS and NSCDC.

The aim, Otti emphasised, will be to identify and respond swiftly to security threats in any part of the state, stressing that the goal is to counter incidents of kidnapping and armed robbery in Abia.

He, therefore, charged the se­curity personnel to pay attention to flash points, especially around Umunneochi and Isuikwuato axis, including Aba, Umuahia and other parts of the state, even as he urged them to be brave and ruthless in carrying out their as­signment.

On criminal collaborators, Otti said they should be dealt with equally according to the law, while urging citizens and residents of the state to volunteer useful infor­mation with the available hotlines to enable the scheme succeed.

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu, explained that the administration has the mandate of the people to create a peaceful and safety environment for all.

He described security infra­structure as critical to the devel­opment of the state and opined that the ‘Operation Crush’ is an operation that would help people to sleep with their two eyes closed and also bring more investors to the state.

He, therefore, urged the people to be part of it.

Responding on behalf of oth­er security chiefs in the state, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr. Kenechukwu Onwue­melie, said that security is not about talking, but doing the need­ful behind the scene and thanked the governor for demonstrating strong commitment towards en­suring high level security in the state.

Onwuemelie on behalf of oth­er security personnel in the state assured that they would do their best to ensure the security outfit succeeds.

The launch of the scheme, which featured distribution of the first batch of 20 Hilux vans for its operation, attracted notable per­sonalities including traditional rulers.