The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DIG

  • Bayelsa guber candidates demand redeployment of DIG

    Some  governorship candidates in Bayelsa State want the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Hassimu Argungu, and the state Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, redeployed ahead of the yet to be fixed concluding segment of the election.

    The  United Governorship Forum for Credible Elections (UGFCE), as the group styles itself, accused the duo of supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the controversial Southern Ijaw local government election.

    The position of the forum was contained in a communiqué read by its leader, Mr. William Berezi, after a meeting in Yenagoa.

    The group condemned the roles of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Police and Army.

    According to the group, institutions of the federal government displayed bias for the APC.

    The forum pointed out that there was no guarantee that the rescheduled elections would not be marred by similar violence adding that neutral persons should be posted to supervise the election.

    It further called on the military high command to withdraw all soldiers deployed to provide security in Southern Ijaw.

    It said that all the electoral materials used in the botched Southern Ijaw election should be jettisoned and new materials be deployed for the fresh poll.

    “We know for a fact that some of the hijacked materials are still in the hands of APC thugs and if not changed, those same materials would be used to rig the rescheduled election,” it said.

     

  • DIG, CPs lead 6,000 policemen for poll

    DIG, CPs lead 6,000 policemen for poll

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has assured the people of Kogi State that the police will secure life and property before, during and after the November 21 election.

    The IGP, who spoke at the Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the police and other security agencies would ensure a violence-free poll.

    The programme, held at the Reverton Hotel, Lokoja, was attended by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu.

    Others included the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Mr. Halilu Pai, a representative of the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), representatives of the 22 parties, monarchs, civil society groups and the public.

    Arase assured the parties and their candidates of a level-playing field, adding that it would be peaceful.

    He said Kogi poll was a litmus test for others, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that the votes of Nigerians must count.

    The police boss said one Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIC), three commissioners, one to be posted to each of the three senatorial zones and one unit of mobile policemen would be deployed in each of the 21 local governments, in addition to the over 6,000 regular policemen on ground.

    He warned those who might have illegally procured or sewn police or army uniform that it was an exercise in futility, saying all officers on electoral duty would be identified.

    Arase admonished the officers not to escort ‘VIPs’ to the polling booths, noting that they were not authorised to monitor the election.

    He said there would be inter-local government restriction of movement, adding that the police would work with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure compliance.

    The police chief said there would be no scared cow. “Those who dare the police will not be spared.”

    The INEC chairman said the commission would conduct a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

    He said 1,351,313 voters were eligible to vote on Saturday, adding that the commission recruited over 13,000 ad hoc officials to work in the 3,018 polling units.

    Prof. Yakubu said the commission detected over 2,300 double registration and that the figure would be removed from the voter register.

    He said as part of efforts to ensure a hitch-free exercise, the commission would deploy three national commissioners and 11 state commissioners for the election.

  • Oshiomhole’s allegations against DIG unfounded – IGP

    Oshiomhole’s allegations against DIG unfounded – IGP

    The Inspector -General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has described as unfounded allegations of complicity leveled against the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Force CID, Mr. Peter Gana, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

    Oshiomhole had accused the DIG of deliberately bungling investigation into the killing of his Principal Secretary, the late Olaitan Oyeride by gunmen who invaded his home in Benin City on May 4 last year.

    The governor had accused the DIG of deliberately muddling up investigation into the killing and had arrested and detained innocent persons just to shield the killers of his aide.

    But speaking at a meeting with commissioners of police and other senior police officers at the Force Headquarters on Friday, the IGP said the police authorities would reply Oshiomhole at the “appropriate time.”

    According to him, the matter is before a competent court of law and that making extensive comments on the issue would be sub judice.

    Abubakar stated: “Governor Oshiomhole made allegations that are unfounded. The matter is in court so my comments at this point would be sub judice. But we will reply him at the appropriate time.”

    On the new code of conduct for police officers and men, the IGP said his officers and men were ready to comply with the spirit and letter of the rules, stressing however that the level of compliance depends on how the Federal Government responds to the need of the Force.

    “The police can only be accountable when their needs are provided for. But we cannot wait until our needs are met before we introduce the various checks and balances as contained in the code of conduct document,” Abubakar emphasised.