Kidnapping of Police Officers, Particularly of the ranks of Area Commander/DPO a very Big Embarrassment to the Nigerian Police-IGP; Announce Massive Deployments for Anambra Governorship Election.

Against the backdrop of recent kidnappings of an Area Commander in Zamfara State and another Divisional Police Officer in Niger State by hoodlums, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday expressed outrage over both incidents saying it was an embrassment to the Police Force.

He lamented a situation whereby police officers who are supposed to be the one Nigerians run to for succor in timesof such criminal activities, are the ones now being abducted attributing the actions to negligence on the part of the States Police Commands.

He consequently warned Commissioners of Police to ensure such embarrassments don’t happen again noting the henceforth, Command CP’s would be held vicariously responsible for such untoward happenings.

The IGP also noted that all police commands across the country would be involved in the provision of security in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State describing the the forthcoming poll as a great challenge to the Police.

He also hinted that special police personnel of the service will be fully mobilized from not less than 15 units across the country to man the election.

Furthermore, he directed state Commissioners of Police, CPs, to immediately assess the deployment of police personnel attached to very important persons with a view to withdrawing those deployed illegally. 

Speaking while briefing senior officers at the IGP’s conference, IGP Idris said the police under his leadership was working towards ensuring that not only the Anambra election was hitch free but also subsequent ones in Ekiti and Osun states. 

“The greatest challenge we are having now is the forth coming governorship election in Anambra State. 

 “We are going to sit down to strategise on how we are going to conduct that election peacefully. 

 “We will involve all commands, all the state Commissioners of Police. We are going to sit down and send out directives towards the mobilization of the police officers that will cover the election, “he said. 

 To this end, he said directives would be sent to various state commands, tasking the state commissioners of police to swing into action with their inputs so that the Force Headquarters could act upon. 

 “Please, when you receive these directives, act on them promptly because it’s going to be a massive deployment. Anywhere you cite some mistakes, send the correction to us so that it can enable us have the deployment very fast. 

 “There is no time for us to be delaying on some of these issues. The election is on the 18th of November and I think it’s close enough for all the security arrangements to be made now, especially in terms of deployment of personnel and provision of necessary logistics. 

 “We are going to deploy about 15 units there to handle the election. And I believe we are going to adequately take care of the election”.. 

 The Police IG said the” return of normalcy following the excesses of these IPOB has contributed a lot for us to ensure that the Anambra election is peaceful. “

He expressed worry over illegal deployment of police personnel especially to senior citizens, tasking police commissioners to immediately assess the situation with a view to doing the right things in conformity with the Police Act and Police Regulations. 

His words, “The issue of illegal deployment of Police mobile units, that’s is the special protection unit and the police mobile force is a concern to us. 

“We are going to give all the commands between now and the end of the month to conduct physical checks of all mobile and the special units in all your commands. 

“When you conduct that check, the issue of having a squadron Commander does not arise, that’s why I’m giving you this special directive. It is the responsibility of the state commands, I have been saying it that deployment of all operations of police in the commands rests squarely with the commissioners of Police.

“These are constitutional issues, it doesn’t fall on the squadron commander. So I want all commands to check deployment of the Police Mobile Force and ensure that all those people that are attached with our men from the police mobile force for whatever decision which is not in consonant with the police regulation must stop immediately. 

“That decision has to stop. So, in your report, you are going to look at the issue of most of these VIPs that are provided with our men from the special units. 

“You have to count their number and then write special reports to us and those you as commissioners of police feel that they don’t deserve to be deployed with these special units, you have to send directives from your offices to the squadron commanders and copy us at the Force Headquarters. 

 “We are going to have absolute control of the usage of our police men that we attach to VIPs all over the country. 

 “I believe this is not an issue that we cannot on our own, handle at the headquarters, so it has to be done with Commissioners of Police.”

 He charged state commissioners to take over the responsibility of deployment of personnel even from the Police Mobile Force and Special Units, saying they should not allow the responsibility for squadron commanders.  

 “You are the heads of the police units in your commands. I have always been repeating this, if you look at the Police Act, the Police Mobile Units and police institutions fall within your commands, and not the headquarters. 

 “So, don’t just sit in the office and say these are mobile units, Police Mobile Force is a Force Headquarters’ unit I understand. But it’s your responsibilities to monitor and ensure that their activities  conform with police regulations and the Police Act which give you the responsibilities over them. 

 “The DIG will send signals to all the CPs of all commands to take responsibilities of those deployment. 

 “It doesn’t limit to deployment, you can also look at supervision where they are deployed. All of us know that in the Police Act, deployment of PMF and every special unit fall in conformity with the Police Act and Police Regulations. Anywhere where as a commissioner of police, you observed that mobile Police men are deployed illegally, I think it’s your responsibility to ensure that you halt that deployment immediately because about two or three months ago, I’m sure you are aware of the situation where some police men serving in the South West were deployed to Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.

 “We are not God, we can’t sit in Abuja and know what’s happening in all places. The Commissioners of Police must take responsibility and ensure that the deployment of all these officers conform with our regulations and act, “he stressed. 

 IGP PRESENT CHEQUES FOR THE NEXT OF KINS OF DESEASED POLICE OFFICERS AT MONTHLY CONFERENCE WITH CPs

The IGP earlier presented checks to some of the 1, 285 next of kins of deceased police officers, at the monthly conference with the Commissioners of Police and above.

He said a total sum of N3, 7billion (Three billion, seven hundred and fifty million naira) was released this year for the payment of the family of the deceased in the Group Assurance scheme which started in year 2004.

Beneficiaries received between N1.5million to N5.7million respectively.

END