By Kamsi Anayo
The Anambra State Police Command has expressed concern over the growing trend of some security operatives concealing their identities while providing protection to dignitaries in the state.
The Federal Government had last year banned police personnel from providing security for VIPs in Nigeria.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Spokesman of the command in a statement on Sunday said that the curious practice could compromise the security of the state.
He said: “While security duties often require tactical discretion, the act of masking identities without proper authorization raises significant security concerns.
“Such practices not only pose a potential threat to public safety but also undermine trust, accountability, and the integrity of inter-agency collaboration.”
Ikenga said the Command remained dedicated to upholding professionalism, accountability, and public trust in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
He noted that the CP has urged all security agencies operating within the state to ensure that their personnel are properly identified at all times while on routine or protective duties, except in clearly defined tactical operations sanctioned by appropriate authorities.
He said: “To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu reiterates that identifiable security personnel remain a critical component of coordinated security operations, especially in an environment that demands synergy among various agencies.
“The use of masks by operatives, particularly in non-operational or public-facing assignments such as VIP protection, makes it difficult to verify legitimacy and could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts under the guise of security duties.”
Ikenga urged that such practices be stopped immediately to avoid breeding conflict among security agencies’ operatives.
