The Nigerian police have begun removing less strategic checkpoints in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, residents say.
It was gathered that the same strategy has been deployed in parts of Enugu, Standard Observers learnt.
This comes after sustained attacks on security agencies in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Police sources say the two Zonal commands in Awka and Umuahia have been put on red alert, adding that the attacks are a source of worry for security agencies in the region.
On Saturday evening, unknown gunmen stormed a police station in Isiala Mbano, looted the armoury, freed the detained inmates and set the station ablaze, SO reports.
This followed sustained attacks on security agencies in Anambra where four naval officers, four police officers and two prison officers were killed and their guns taken away in the past seven days.
According to the police source who spoke on the conditions of anonymity, the killings have sent shock waves to the commands in the East.
He said the situation is compounded by the fact that the attackers have no face, adding that some groups might be carrying out asymmetric warfare in the East.
In Aba and Enugu, Police patrols have been less frequent, residents of the area said.
A chieftain of the Apex-Igbo socio-political group, Alex Chigbuo told Standard Observers that leaders in the region must rise up to tackle the development.
He added that what is happening in the East is a product of directionless leadership.
