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Tag: Ibrahim Idris

  • Saraki to IG: Appear before Senate panel if you have nothing to hide

    Saraki to IG: Appear before Senate panel if you have nothing to hide

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday asked the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to honour invitation of the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating allegations of abuse of office levied against him if he has nothing to hide.

    The Senator Francis Alimikhena led ad-hoc committee had on Wednesday threatened to invoke necessary constitutional provisions to compel the police boss to appear before his committee.

    Idris wrote the committee to inform members that he could not appear before it because the matter under investigation was already before the court.

    Saraki who was reacting to a point of order raised by Alimikhena that the IGP failed to honour the invitation of his committee, re-echoed the panel’s position that no court can stop the Senate from performing its constitutional duties.

    The Senate President noted that several judicial pronouncements had made it clear that no court can stop the Senate from carrying out its duties.

    Saraki said: “As the chief law enforcement officer, he should know what the law is and he should know that he cannot stop the Senate from doing its job. There are several judicial pronouncements on this issue and I expect him to know these things.

    “He should be advised to do the right thing and appear before the Senate. If you have nothing to hide, you should appear before the committee like any other Nigerian.”

    Alimikhena briefed the Senate on the position taken by his committee.

    The Edo North lawmaker told the Senate that his committee was asked to jettison the investigation of the police boss.

    He said that the Idris, through his lawyer, Mr. Alex Izinyon told the committee that the matter the IGP was invited for was already in court.

    He said that the committee was going ahead with the investigation.

    “I want to inform the Senate that IGP failed to appear before the committee. The committee received a letter from his lawyer. We were told to suspend it or keep it in abeyance. The letter from the lawyer cannot stop us from performing our roles,” he said.

    He added, “Most of the allegations leveled against him (IGP) and virement was not part of what they went to court. This committee was constituted before the IGP went to court. The court case will not deter our committee because following the principle of separation of powers no court can stop our committee.

    “We will invite him again next Tuesday. There are issues about virement in the 2017 budget which Misau also raised. We need him to respond to these allegations. We will invite him again and he will appear before us. If he fails to appear, we will invoke Section 89 of the 1999 constitution, as amended to compel him to appear,”Alimikhena said on Wednesday.

  • Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Alleged Fraudulent Activities in Collection, Accounting, Remittance and Expenditure by Revenue Generating Agencies has invited the Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mr Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it.

    The committee’s Chairman, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said in statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to him, the invitation followed findings on a N6.5 billion unpaid revenue accruing from the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.

    He said, others invited to appear before the committee are the Director Generals of Directorate of State Security ( DSS ), Bureau of Public Enterprise ( BPE ) and National Council on Privatisation ( NCP ).

    Adeola said the essence of the invitation was to get the Police and DSS to assist the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Bureau of Public Enterprise ( BPE )in recovering the money, which had accrued for over nine years.

    He said that the invitation was to also assist in ejecting the concessionaire of the Trade Fair Complex, LITFC, AULIC Nigeria Limited and recovering the complex.

    Adeola said it had become necessary to recover the 322 hectares multi billion Naira complex following a huge debt due in the N40 billion lease fees.

    Adeola quoted the Director-General of BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, as saying the concession agreement to AULIC Nigeria Limited was revoked in early September by the Federal Government.

    He further quoted Okoh as saying all efforts to eject the concessionaire including the use of the Divisional Police at the complex and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) proved abortive.

    Adeola said findings showed that “after the initial fees of N200 million paid by the concessionaire in 2007 and another N12 million, it has not paid a dime to the federal government, with outstanding revenue of N6.5 billion.

    “The concessionaire has bastardised the trade fair complex with hospitality and real estate businesses without approved plans.

    “It is shocking that an individual or corporate organisation could operate so lawlessly, withholding federal government revenue, while contravening a government revocation order of his concessionaire agreement.

    “What we need to do at this point is to recover the Trade Fair Complex from the concessionaire and subsequently pursue the issue of N6.5 billion unremitted federal government revenue.

    “Since the local police cannot handle the ejection with the concessionaire still operating and collecting revenue using all manner of tactics including thuggery, we are inviting the IG-P and DG-DSS to address this illegal challenge on the authority.

    “I am surprised that anyone can flagrantly operate as if he is above the law and the government,’’ the statement read in part.

    NAN

  • Senator blames IGP over exposure of Buhari wife’s Jeeps purchase

    Senator blames IGP over exposure of Buhari wife’s Jeeps purchase

    The Senator representing Bauchi Central, Isa Hamma Misau, on Thursday said that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was behind the leaked document that exposed the purchase of exotic cars for the First Lady, Aisha Buhari.

    Misau said that the clarification became necessary following the reportage of the presentation he made before the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the allegations he made against the IGP ON Wednesday.

    The Bauchi central lawmaker, in a statement, noted that his comment on the approval of two Prado Jeeps by the IGP for the president’s wife was in reference to court documents filed in the charge against him by the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation.

    Misau said: “The said documents which formed part of the proof of evidence to the charge are correspondence between the Inspector General of Police and the following: the President and C-in-C of the Federation; The Chief of Staff to the President; the Director, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies; the ADC to the Wife of the President and the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President.”

    He accused the IGP of blackmailing the President’s wife and other high ranking personalities by deliberately and unethically exposing their correspondences.

    Misau added: “It was indeed a shock to me, as am sure it is to other Nigerians to see such private and confidential documents with all the minutes of the President and other top government officials carelessly displayed in the public by the Inspector General of Police in manifest breach of official secrecy.

    “The motive for displaying these documents is no doubt suspicious given that they have little or no bearing on the matter of inappropriate practices within the Police.

    “My submission before the Senate Ad hoc Committee was simply to call the attention of members as well as the general public to how the IGP is unethically dropping names through the filing of secret documents so as to rope these top-ranking innocent personalities into the case.

    “The IGP is the one who submitted the official documents mentioning the names of respected personalities, not me. I believe I need to make this clarification.”

    A copy of the documents allegedly filed in court by the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation, which was made available to reporters, showed that the request for a Sienna vehicle and a Toyota Hiace Bus for the first lady was addressed to Ibrahim Idris and signed by the ADC to the President’s Wife, SP Sani Baba-Inna.

    The request contained in the letter dated January 17, 2017, was officially approved the following day by the IGP in a handwritten minute approving the purchase of two jeeps.

  • Over N500m lost to electricity vandalism – Police

    Over N500m lost to electricity vandalism – Police

     

     

    The Nigeria Police has disclosed that Nigeria has lost over N500m to electricity vandalism.

    The Police explained that the amount lost is just an estimate of what was lost between January and September, 2017 by four States.

    This was revealed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris in Abuja during the flag-off of the Nigeria Police Anti-Electricity Vandalism Response Squad (AEVRS).

    The IG who was represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Crime Prevention and Community Safety, CP Austin Iwar said: “We are all witnesses to how vandalism has impacted negatively on the development of our economy. Sometimes people in their living rooms get angry when there is power outage but the fact is, sometimes, it is caused by vandals who are fond of tampering with electricity installment.

    “The increasing rate of vandalization of electricity installations across the country has not only become alarming but very frightening.

    “On daily basis, wanton destruction of electricity infrastructure is recorded with monumental economic loss to the Nigerian economy. As a result of this deliberate economic sabotage, businesses have been disrupted, means of livelihood destroyed and the quantum loss of much needed government revenue, just to mention but a few”.

    The Police chief further said: “Available Nigeria Police Crime Statistics reveals that from January, 2017 to date alone, there have been a whopping 233 cases of vandalization of electricity infrastructure in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger States, resulting in an estimated over N500million economic loss to the country.

    “Even at that, these very disturbing statistics represents only the reported cases. In reality, the figures and losses could be worse”.

    As part of measures to also eradicate cases of vandalism in the electricity sector, the IG has also ordered all State Commissioners of Police to liaise with Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) in their States for the immediate replication and the establishment of the unit.

    The IG also hinted that the squad would go into the market to fish out people who buy the vandalised products.

    Also speaking, the Chairman Board of Directors of AEDC, Ambassador Shehu Malami, said continuous vandalism has hindered generation and distribution of electricity all over Nigeria.

    He said: “It is pertinent for me to state that the rising incidence of vandalism of power equipment has become a major threat to efficient generation and distribution of electricity all over Nigeria.

    “In fact, the vandals have not only put the operations of the power companies in jeopardy in recent times, but have also posed serious threats to speedy recovery of our Nation’s economy through various acts of sabotage on power infrastructures.”

    Commenting on the effect of vandalism to the electricity sector, the Managing Director of AEDC, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya said over N195million was spent by AEDC to replace what was vandalised.

    Lamenting the impact of vandalism, Mupwaya said: “In 2016, we had a total number of 89 cases of vandalism. However, the figure more than doubled in 2017. Between January and September 2017, 233 cases of vandalism have been reported within our franchise area. The total money spent in replacing the vandalised items is N195 627 211.50.

    “This is without prejudice to the discomfort it has caused our customers, loss of revenue to and the reputational damage to AEDC and several other issues associated with vandalism.

    “From records, the focus of the vandals is often the copper element in the cables, the oil in the transformer, insulators of different sizes etc.

    “One obvious implication of this unfortunate situation is that progress is retarded because what ought to be used in acquiring new assets for the improvement of service to our customers is now diverted to the replacement of vandalised components”.

  • AEDC loses N500m to vandalism

    AEDC loses N500m to vandalism

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) lost over N500 million to activities of vandals in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger from January to date.

    Idris made this known while inaugurating the Anti-Electricity Vandalism Response Squad (AEVRS) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said that 233 cases of vandalism were recorded in the area during the period.

    He, however, said that over the years, the police did a lot to prevent vandals from destroying electricity installations across the country.

    “With the worsening state of the situation, it has become expedient to urgently develop an improved strategy to better protect the nation`s critical electricity infrastructure,” the police boss said.

    He added that the creation of AEVRS became necessary because the traditional methods deployed were not enough to adequately guarantee their safety.

    He explained that the unit was specifically dedicated to the protection of electrical installations among others.

    Idris said that to ensure that no part of the country was left out of the strategy, commissioners of police in all the states had been directed to liaise with electricity distribution companies in their states.

    He said that policemen deployed to the unit would undergo specialised training to update their skills.

    “In addition, the unit is subject to routine monitoring and evaluation to ensure they remain focused,“ he said.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya, had said that the company recorded 89 cases of vandalism in 2016, adding that the figure doubled in 2017.

    “Between January and September, 233 cases of vandalism have been reported within our franchise area,” he added.

    He also said that the company spent N195 million to replace vandalised items during the period.

    Mupwaya said that the implication of the “unfortunate situation is that money which ought to be used for acquiring new assets will be channelled to replacing vandalised equipment’’.

    He restated the company`s preparedness to ensure that all bottlenecks impeding supply of electricity to customers were removed.

    The Chairman, Board of Directors, AEDC, Mr Shehu Malami, said that the rising cases of vandalism of power equipment was a major threat to efficient electricity generation and distribution in the country.

    He said that the company was committed to work with all stakeholders to improve power supply to customers within its franchise areas.

    “I am also using this opportunity to call on members of the public to join hands with us in this partnership with the police to tackle this menace,“ he said.

    NAN

  • Widow to IGP: order arrest of my husband’s killer

    Widow to IGP: order arrest of my husband’s killer

    The widow of a slain sand dealer in Umuebulu, Etche Local Government of Rivers State, Mrs. Victoria Njoku, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, for justice.

    She lamented that her four children have stopped school since her husband was murdered on May 5.

    Leaders of Umuebulu, in a petition to the IGP, signed by the monarch, Eze James Nwagwu; the oldest man in the community Enyiazu Okere; a leader, Chief Benjamin Nwafor, and 10 others, accused a member of the IGP Monitoring Team in Abuja, Victor Nwadike, of vowing not to return the case file to Port Harcourt.

    They alleged that Nwadike attempted to pervert justice, having collected N20 million from the suspected murderer, Daniel Njoku, an engineer, which he denied.

    Mrs. Njoku said: “I want justice. The killer of my husband should be arrested; the IGP should order that the case file be sent to Port Harcourt. The murderer always bribed his way through each time he was arrested.

    “Why the special interest of Abuja in this case? Who is funding SP Victor Nwadike and his men to pay flights from Abuja to Rivers State for this murder case? Was it the IGP that funded and mobilised him? Why have members of the IGP monitoring team not bothered to hear from eyewitnesses? Why is Nwadike avoiding me and witnesses to the murder? Who is really paying for his (Nwadike’s) expenses in hotels and fares?

    “What is the rationale behind the takeover of the case by the IGP monitoring team, of an already-concluded investigation in Rivers State, even when the matter occurred in Rivers State?”

    Umuebulu leaders begged the IGP not to allow the case to be swept under the carpet, urging him to take action and perform his duty.

    They said: “The only reason Nwadike has refused to return the case file to Rivers State is to impede investigation and frustrate eyewitnesses, who cannot afford the cost of travelling to Abuja.

    “Nwadike has vowed not to hand over the case file, despite cries of the widow, the four children and community members that he (Nwadike) should withdraw from the case. His conduct has lent credence to the boast by the murderer that he has bought Nwadike.

    “The leadership of Umuebulu has restrained aggrieved youths against taking laws into their hands, but we cannot guarantee their cooperation if justice is delayed or denied. The released murderer is attempting to eliminate eyewitnesses.”

    But Nwadike said he never vowed to hold on to the case file, adding that he acted professionally while handling the matter, but he did not know how the suspect (Daniel) was freed. He insisted it happened before he took over the matter.

    His words: “It was on the directive of the IGP that I was mandated to take over the case. Before I proceeded to SCIID, Port Harcourt, to take over, my team had taken over the sister case file from another monitoring unit team. I acted as directed.

    “I did not know Daniel Njoku prior to September 15, when the case file was taken over from Port Harcourt. That was the first and only time I met him. It may also interest you to know that I never had his phone number or ever called him. My call log can attest to this. He is not my friend.

    “I am not a bribe-taking policeman. Without sounding immodest, I am not the type of officer who sees white and turns it to black. By the grace of God, my life will never condescend to that level. My accusers should know that at the right time, they will be required to prove when, where and how I received bribe from Daniel Njoku. It will be unfortunate if they fail.

    “Investigation is on. They have been invited. Yet, they have failed or refused to honour the invitation. Why are they not comfortable with the office of the IGP to look into and do justice to this case if they have nothing to hide? “

    The suspected murderer, Daniel Njoku, in a telephone interview, described the petitioners (leaders of Umuebulu) as hoodlums and impostors, who lied against him after taking over his father’s land. He denied killing Mbuchi, who he said drowned in the river.

    Njoku also denied bribing any policeman.

    Umuebulu leaders, however, called on the IG to perform his constitutional duty and bring the culprit to book.

    They pleaded with the IG to end the underhand activities of the monitoring teamin trying to cover up the case.

  • BREAKING: Court bars IGP, others from arresting Ecobank MD Kie

    BREAKING: Court bars IGP, others from arresting Ecobank MD Kie

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday barred the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and the Commissioner of Police in Lagos Edgar Imohimi from arresting Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria Limited Mr Charles Kie.

    Justice Muslim Hassan ordered that status quo be maintained until Kie’s motion on notice for an order of perpetual injunction stopping his arrest is heard and determined.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti Mr Bolaji Salami and Managing Director of Emirates Fuel Exploration and Production Limited are the other respondents.

    The judge ruled on an ex-parte application by Kie and Ecobank argued on their behalf by Mr A. I. Olawoye of the firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors.

    The lawyer alleged that armed policemen invaded Ecobank’s head office in a bid to arrest Kie.

    “They were there with a large battalion of officers, scaring customers away. The Managing Director is now scared of moving around freely,” he said.

    The lawyer said it was due to the bank’s refusal to transfer $10.5million (about N3.7billion) from the account of a customer, INT Towers Limited, to that of Emirates Fuel Exploration and Production, as ordered by a Lagos Magistrate, Mr W.B. Balogun.

    Justice Hassan held: “I have carefully read the application, the affidavit in support, the exhibits attached and the written address of learned counsel.

    “I am of the view that the interest of justice will be better served if the respondents are put on notice.

    “Meanwhile, status quo ante bellum should be maintained pending the determination of the motion of notice.”

    The applicants sought an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents or their agents “from harassing, oppressing, detaining, arresting and/or intimidating the applicants or their officers.”

    They also prayed the court to restrain the police from “interfering in any way with the personal liberty of the applicants or the smooth running of their business in any manner whatsoever that will breach the fundamental rights of the applicants pending the hearing of the originating motion”

    Olawoye said the application was based on the grounds that the police stormed Ecobank’s headquarters on September 28 to arrest Kie.

    “His movement has been constrained for fear of being arrested. It has affected his functions as Managing Director of the bank. He cannot move around with his security personnel who are policemen and thus he has been exposed to great security risk considering his position.

    “The respondents have continued to harass, oppress and intimidate the applicants by continuous threats to forcefully arrest and detain the first applicant (Kie) in further breach of the applicants’ fundamental rights.

    “The actions of the respondents are instigated by malice and bad faith and their actions are ultra vires and without due process,” the lawyer said.

    In an affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion, deposed to by a Litigating Officer in Ecobank’s Legal and Regulatory Unit, Adetoro Ojelabi, the bank said it received letters from the IGP requesting for information on an account being investigated for armed robbery, fraudulent act, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

    The bank said it was surprised when it received another letter of August 25 authored by DCP Salami asking it to transfer $10,500,000 from an account belonging to INT Towers to Emirates Fuel based on an order by a Magistrate’s Court.

    Ecobank said it was never served with court processes in the proceedings before the Magistrate Court, adding that the holder of the account was not made a party, even as the amount was far above the magistrate court’s jurisdiction, which is limited to N10million.

    Besides, the bank said the letter from the police which instructed it to transfer the money predates the Magistrate’s order, and that none of its officers was ever invited to clarify the claims.

    Ecobank claimed that the order “was secretly obtained against them” and that nobody was charged or convicted for any criminal allegation before the order was obtained.

    The bank said it filed an application seeking to set aside the order, a stay of execution and a motion for leave to appeal against the order.

    “To the total dismay of the applicants, officers of the respondents stormed the corporate headquarters of the bank to arrest the first applicant on the ground that he refused to comply with their instruction to illegally transfer the sum of $10,500,000 from a customer’s account to a third party account.

    “The policemen acting on the strict instruction of the respondents created a damaging scene at the corporate headquarters of the applicants and disrupted its business,” the deponent said.

    The applicants said the action of the police caused serious damage to the bank’s reputation, and that if not restrained, they would continue to violate their rights.

    Justice Hassan adjourned till November 9 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

  • Alleged falsehood case: Court grants Misau bail

    Alleged falsehood case: Court grants Misau bail

    An Abuja High Court on Thursday granted bail to Sen. Isah Misau, standing trial in a case of alleged injurious falsehood brought against him by the Federal Government.

    Misau, a serving senator, is facing a five-count charge bordering on injurious falsehood against the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro.

    The judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, who declined to grant bail to Misau on self-recognition, set the bail bond at N5 million with two reliable sureties each in like sum.

    The judge had declined the prayer made by Misau’s counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN) asking the court to grant bail to his client on self-recognition.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for homicide

    Bello said: “for a reason I am not considering the request made by the learned Silk.

    “It has now become customary that anytime senior citizens are arraigned in the court and are granted bail on self-recognition, they suddenly realise that they have the need to engage in some personal trips outside.

    “And sometimes they stayed for a long period of time and such cases will be delayed because of their absence.’’

    Bello adjourned the case to Nov. 28 and 29 for hearing.

    Earlier, Misau had pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him.

    Mr Hadi Saleh, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that between Aug. 10 and Oct. 5, the defendant had made some injurious falsehood statements against Idris and Okiro which were widely publicised by the media.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provision of Section 393 (1) of the Penal Code.

  • Kidnapping of policemen embarrassing, says IG

    Kidnapping of policemen embarrassing, says IG

    Inspector General ( IG ) of Police Ibrahim Idris yesterday castigated police officers for being careless to the extent that they are kidnapped.

    He described as embarrassing and annoying the recent kidnap of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sarkin Pawa in Niger State.

    Superintendent of Police (SP) Amos Aliyu was on Sunday abducted near his home at Turin Fulani by unidentified persons.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers, the IG urged policemen to be careful and protect themselves first.

    Idris told Commissioners of Police that they would be vicariously liable should anything happen to any policeman under them.

    He said: “There should be more visibility policing. Policemen should be deployed in flashpoint areas to take care of security because the presence of police in those areas would help in the reduction of crime.

    “We must take the protection of our officers seriously.  We have a problem; two days ago, one of our DPOs was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you have all the policemen under your Command and then you start driving as if you don’t have anybody.

    “You allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and your orderly, it is very embarrassing. We had the same issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going on leave travelled alone. It is embarrassing.

    “Utilize the men you have and you must protect yourself first. You can only protect others when you are protected because you are a target.

    “The information we are receiving is that our ACP’s vehicle was abandoned in a bush and he has not been seen which obviously means that he has been kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation? It is becoming an embarrassment. DPOs and other personnel should be careful of their movement.

    The police chief added: “The CP Niger said there is contact already and they are working on it. Policemen who are protecting others should not allow themselves to be target. We should be careful in our movement.

    “Our officers have to be concerned about their personal safety first because this issue is becoming an embarrassment. CPs would also be vicariously liable for any policeman that is just picked up like a fowl or anything, it is very annoying.

    “We should be careful in our movement. If you notice that an area is not safe, you should deploy men in those areas. We should take their protection very serious. Our policemen should also be careful with the way they move around”.

    On the recent law on kidnapping, Idris said: “The Nigeria Police Force is very glad with the law on kidnapping. With the law which is a death sentence for those that would be tried for kidnapping, the spate of kidnapping in Nigeria will be reduced”.

    On the Anambra State governor’s election next month, the IG said additional policemen would be deployed to join the 17 units already on ground.

    The IG explained that the massive deployment would ensure a credible election in November 18.

    He said: “The major challenges we are having now are the elections we would be having in Anambra state and two other states.

    “The deployment will involve all commands. We are going to send directives to all CPs for the mobilisation of officers who are the Special Unit and the Conventional police for the election.

    “When you receive the directive, act on them promptly because it is going to be a massive deployment. We don’t have time to delay in our planning and deployment because the election date is too close. It is important for us to prepare so that we can provide personnel and logistics in order for the officers to perform creditably.

    “It is unfortunate that before this election, we had some minor problems especially in the southeast but I believe the challenges have been addressed because we deployed 17 units there and with the additional deployment requested, we are going to take care of security in that location.”

  • Protect yourself first, IG tells Policemen

    Protect yourself first, IG tells Policemen

    The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris has described as embarrassing and annoying the recent kidnap of the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.

     The DPO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Amos Aliyu was on Sunday kidnapped around his residence at Turin Fulani by unidentified persons.
    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior Officers, the IG urged policemen to be careful and protect themselves first.
    Idris also said Commissioners of Police would be vicariously liable if anything happens to any policeman under them.
    He said: “There should be more visibility policing. Policemen should be deployed to flashpoint areas to take care of security because the presence of police in those areas would help in the reduction of crime.
    “We must take the protection of our officers seriously. We have a problem; two days ago, one of our DPOs was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you have all the policemen under your Command and then you start driving as if you don’t have anybody.
    “You allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and your orderly, it is very embarrassing. We had the same issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going on leave travelled alone. It is embarrassing. 
    “Utilize the men you have and you must protect yourself first. You can only protect others when you are protected because you are a target.
    “The information we are receiving is that our ACP’s vehicle was abandoned in a bush and he has not been seen which obviously means that he has been kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation? It is becoming an embarrassment. DPOs and other personnel should be careful of their movement.
    The police chief further said: “The CP Niger said there is contact already and they are working on it. Policemen who are protecting others should not allow themselves to be a target. We should be careful in our movement.
    “Our officers have to be concerned about their personal safety first because this issue is becoming an embarrassment. CPs would also be vicariously liable for any policeman that is just picked up like a fowl or anything, it is very annoying.
     
    “We should be careful in our movement. If you notice that an area is not safe, you should deploy men to those areas. We should take their protection very seriously. Our policemen should also be careful with the way they move around.
    On the recent law on kidnapping, Idris said: “Nigeria Police Force is very glad about the law on kidnapping. With the law which is a death sentence for those that would be tried on kidnapping, the spate of kidnapping in Nigeria would be reduced.
    The IG also disclosed that additional policemen would be deployed to join the 17 units who are already on the ground for the Governorship election.
    The IG explained that the deployment which would be massive would ensure a credible election which is slated for November 18, 2017.
    He said: “The major challenges we are having now are the election we would be having in Anambra state and one or two other states.
    “The deployment that would be done would involve all commands. We are going to send directives to all CPs for the mobilization of officers who are the Special Unit and the Conventional police for the election.
    “When you receive the directive, act on them promptly because it is going to be a massive deployment. We don’t have time to delay in our planning and deployment because the election date is too close. It is important for us to prepare so that we can provide personnel and logistics in order for the officers to perform creditably.
    “It is unfortunate that before this election, we had some minor problems especially in the southeast but I believe the challenges have been addressed because we deployed 17 units there and with the additional deployment requested, we are going to take care of security in that location.”
    The IG also hinted on a proper and attractive outfit for traffic wardens and policemen in charge of traffic control. 
    He said: “We must take care of the turnout of traffic wardens and those in charge of traffic control. Their turn out must be white. Their armband and others must be white including their cap. 
    “When you go to a country, some of the things you admire is the turn out of the policemen controlling traffic on the road. It adds a lot to regularization of the country. They should turn out properly and look professional. Our men should take it seriously. Especially in major cities like Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos and, FCT.”