Anambra bans security operatives wearing masks on duty

Anambra State Government has banned the State local security operatives “Agunaechemba” from wearing masks while on duty.

Ken Emeakayi, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, handed the stern warning to the operatives commanders in his office on Thursday in Awka.

“The practice must stop henceforth,” he said.

Emeakayi emphasisd that any operative carrying out his duty with a mask, especially within the town in civil cases is hiding something.

He told the Commanders that by operating with mask, security operatives can scare citizens, while criminal elements can also take advantage of it and perpetuate crime, which could be blamed on the agency and their men.

“You have nothing to fear. All of you live in various localities, and people already know you, as security men.

“When you sit at joints enjoying your beer, do you mask up? Some of you even take your work tools (guns) to drinking joints. What do you want to prove? Just so that people will hail you?

“We are stopping operatives from wearing mask, while operating, and we want you to enforce it,” he stressed.

Analysts wondered the modus operandi of the security outfit covering their faces, particularly on the roads, if not for extortion of motorists and other citizens.