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Tag: Ibrahim Idris

  • I-G orders investigation into alleged comment by policeman

    I-G orders investigation into alleged comment by policeman

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered investigation into an alleged statement credited to a policeman, Inusa Biu, on his Facebook account.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that an online publication on HOTGISTNAIJA on April 26, credited a statement to Inusa captioned “Policeman threatens to kill 200 Nigerians if Buhari dies.”

    The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Moshood stated  that policemen Were under obligation not to make unauthorised public comments.

    He said Nigeria Police Force is a highly discipline organisation with full observation and compliance with professional ethics and decorum.

    The spokesman said that the comment was a distraction “and absolutely a shadowy imagination of the writer and should be disregarded.”

    He assured the public of police renewed determination and commitment to maintain law and order.

  • ASUU demands transfer of Edo CP

     

     

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately transfer the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu.

    It said Edo State deserves a patriotic, resourceful and efficient policeman to lead the Nigerian Police Force in the state.

    ASUU also called on the IG to commence investigation of Gwandu and his activities in the state.

    The current face off between the Police Commissioner and authorities of AAU is coming after the dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Sunday Edeko, accused the police of illegal detention after brutalizing him with cutlasses and hammer.

    Gwandu who described Prof. Edeko’s allegation as tissues of lies announced the arrest of a Professor in the university for illegal possession of firearms.

    Chairman of the ASUU, AAU chapter, Dr. Monday Igbafen who spoke at a press briefing at Ekpoma yesterday accused the police Commissioner of blackmailing the university instead of investigating activities of his anti-cultism unit.

    Dr. Igbafen said investigation showed that one Dr. Oboh in the Department of Public Administration was arrested in February and later released without the police making a formal report to the university management.

    Igbafen wondered why the CP would use the arrest of a lecturer arrested in February to blackmail the university over an issue that happened in March.

    He challenged the CP to show the world the site where 14 dead bodies were recovered in Ekpoma.

    His words, “As a union, our members used to take Police briefing as a serious business. But from this Gwandu macabre dance, we know better and have resolved to take any briefing by the police with a pinch of salt.

    “Gwandu’ story is not only spurious and unfounded but a calculated attempt to bring our university to public odium. It is a clever attempt to cover up a lingering case of unwarranted arrest and unjustifiable brutalizations Prof. Edeko.”

  • Police restate commitment to protection of human rights

    Police restate commitment to protection of human rights

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday, restated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to the protection of human rights through strict adherence to professional policing.

    Idris gave the assurance at the International Civil Society Seminar on Counter Insurgency organised by Global Amnesty Watch in partnership with Conscience Nigeria (CN), an NGO, in Abuja.

    The theme of the seminar was “Counter Insurgency: Human Rights and Good Governance in the Context of the Nigeria Situation”.

    He said that protection of human rights was a core function of the Nigeria police, adding that the force had constantly formulated policies and disciplinary measures that would galvanise its relationship with the public.

    The I.G, represented by the FCT Commissioner of Police Command, Musa Kimo, said police would not wait for a report of human rights observers before checkmating or launching the investigation into alleged human rights abuses.

    He said that the police management team did not only make human rights a subject of the lecture in its daily briefings but had set-up the IGP Complaints Rapid Response Unit.

    He explained that the complaint unit was domiciled in all States Command and the Force Headquarters, adding that the units had long been launched and maintained a Link in the Nigeria Police website.

    “Reports to this unit are professionally investigated with disciplinary measures enforced accordingly.

    “I urge the public and Human Rights Observers to explore these opportunities, subject some media reports of human rights abuse and participate in the investigation to provide evidence through these units before publishing their conclusions.

    “The Nigeria police may though not act as spokesperson for others accused of human rights abuses but as a lead agency in internal security, the police may say that human rights violations are myth rather than reality.

    “Agreed, that in the course of counter insurgency operations, there have been some couple of operational mistakes leading to death, arrest and detention of some persons but they are being exaggerated by human rights observers.”

    The I-G said that human rights observers mostly depended on media reports without bothering to crosscheck and ascertain the authenticity or otherwise of what the media reported.

    Idris, therefore, advocated synergy between the security forces and human rights observers with a view to addressing mutual suspicion between them.

    The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Bri.-Gen. Sani Usman, said the issue of human rights protection was paramount to the Nigerian army.

    Usman said that the Nigeria Army had established a Human Rights Desk and reached out to both local and international stakeholders on human rights related issues.

    “Every single complaint of human rights abuse that is brought to us is thoroughly investigated in order to ascertain the allegation and take appropriate measures,” he said.

    Mr Tosin Adeyanju, the Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, an NGO, said the seminar would enhance better relationship and understanding between the security agencies and human rights observers in the country.

  • IGP pledges partnership with SWAN to enhance sports development

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has promised to support the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in all its activities and all efforts to enhance sports development in the country.

    Idris, while receiving a delegation of the SWAN National Executive Committee (NEC) who was on a courtesy visit, also canvassed the sports media’s support for ongoing Police reforms.

    He however pointed out that the Police Force would also be looking forward to an effective the partnership with the Association as it prepares for the annual Nigerian Police Games.

    “We are ready to partner with your Association in your activities, and we will support you in all your programmes towards enhancing sports development in this country.

    “But we also seek your partnership as we prepare for this year’s Police Games which is coming up in July. We seek your support so that you can be fully engaged in the Games,’’ Idris said.

    He further said it was heart-warming that ongoing Police reforms were being appreciated, saying the reforms’ success was crucial to the Police Force.

    “We are aware that the public’s perception of the Police is very important, and that is why we have been doig a lot in terms of reforms. We therefore need your support in this area in view of your own roles,’’ the Inspector-General of Police said.

    While speaking earlier, the SWAN National President, Honour Sirawoo, had lauded Idris for ensuring laudable changes in the Police Force since he took charge.

    “We are seeing noteworthy changes in the security architecture of this country. Things are getting better, and this is all due to your laudable efforts since taking charge of the Police Force.

    “We urge you to continue with this in order to totally rid the country of all security challenges which hinder smooth social-political development,’’ he said.

    Sirawoo listed the Association’s programmes and efforts towards ensuring the sports writing profession was not seen as a threat to the society but a major ingredient in enhancing the country’s development.

    “We have been doing a major sanitisation of our Association, to avoid a situation that quacks and fraudsters would give us a bad name, and this is why there is an ongoing membership revalidation exercise, which is almost concluded,’’ he said.

    The SWAN President added that the Association was appreciative of Police contributions to the country’s sports development through the production of athletes who have gone on to win international honours.

    “We are aware of what the Police have been doing through the Police Games and the production of outstanding athletes in the past six or seven decades, and we appreciate this.

    “We urge you not to relent, and pledge that we will continue to support your efforts in this regard and also let the public know that you are an important factor in the country’s sports development,’’ he said.

  • NSCDC secures conviction of 18 persons accused of downloading films

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has secured the conviction of 18 persons accused of downloading and sending Hausa films in Kano.

    The command’s Public Relations officer, Mr Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday.

    Idris said the convicts were arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Kano on Friday, April 7, after they were arrested around Dakata in Ungoggo Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the arrest followed a complaint by some members of Hausa Film Makers Association.

    “The convicts were accused of downloading and sending of Hausa films, an act that contravenes a section of Kano State Censorship Board laws 2001.

    “When the one-count charge piracy was read to them, they all pleaded guilty and the Chief Magistrate, Sanusi Usman, thereafter sentenced them to 45 days imprisonment or to pay an option of fine of N12, 000 each,”Idris said.

  • Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    Benue crisis: 18 associates of Benue militant arrested

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday said 18 people suspected to be responsible for the crisis in some parts of Benue state have been arrested.

    The police chief also disclosed that a cache of arms belonging to a repentant militant, Tewase Akwaza popularly known as Ghana has also been recovered.

    The suspects arrested are believed to be the close associates of Ghana.

    The police noted that Ghana and his associates are responsible for some of the crisis witnessed in the state, adding that he (Ghana) has been placed on a wanted list.

    The police chief also hinted that the weapons in Ghana’s possession can be used to attack a country.

    He said this in Abuja at the monthly meeting with members of the management of the Force and other senior officers.

    According to him: “A non-militant who has been declared wanted has taken it upon himself to cause havoc in Benue State.

    “As at two days ago, a joint operation was conducted with the military and state services and a lot of array of weapons have been discovered and some of the weapons are going to be used to prosecute some of the suspects.

    “We have about 18 suspects in detention presently from that area, though the man himself is still on the wanted list and we are pursuing him.

    “His close associates have all been arrested and in few days times, some of them will be paraded so that this country can see the kind of people that are causing crisis all over the country.

    Describing the weapons in Ghana’s possession, the police chief said: “I want people to see the array of weapons recovered from him. With the arms he has, you will think he wants to attack a whole country.

    “I have to appreciate the governor of the state because he came openly and admitted that he made a mistake to have given him amnesty because with the recent recovery of arms, what he gave during the amnesty programme was just to deceive Nigerians.

    “I am saying it because some of the disarmament processes are just connivance to fool the public.

    He urged senior officers to give special attention to repentant criminals.

    According to him: “No matter the issue of amnesty, we should put a close eye on repentant criminals because in the case of Ghana, he has so many weapons like machine guns and he claimed to have repented during the amnesty programme.

    “He was paraded in the public with rickety weapons to deceive us unknown to us that he has more. So, we have to take a second look at some of these things.

    “Hundreds of people were killed by him who pretended to have embraced amnesty while in the real sense, his armaments are buried within those areas,” Idris said.

    It was also revealed that over 100 kidnappers have been arrested in less than a year by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit led by ACP Abba Kyari.

    He said: “We have to give kudos to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for what they are doing to arrest some of the criminals. The team led by Kyari is doing wonderful jobs because they have arrested hundreds of kidnappers.

    “In the history of this country, we have not seen where police respond immediately to kidnapping issue and so far, we have to commend them.”

  • Idris warns police officers on unlawful arrest, detention

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has warned police officers against unlawful arrests and detention of innocent Nigerians.

    Idris gave the warning at a meeting with Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He directed all commissioners of police in the states to ensure close supervision of operations of all units in their commands to avoid this unpleasant situation.

    “You should ensure close supervision of operations of all units stationed in your commands,” he said.

    Idris said all police units in the state were under the supervision of the commissioner who supervised activities of the command.

    He expressed concern over the conduct of some police officers who were arresting suspects and detaining them without recourse to thorough investigation.

    Idris attributed the recent achievements recorded by the police to the synergy between it and other security agencies in the country.

    “Police is having a robust synergy with other security agencies, this is seen in operation jointly carried out by the police and the security agencies,” he said.

    He said such joint operations had resulted in the arrest of 18 suspects and recovery of cache of arms in Benue.

    NAN

     

     

  • FCT Police arrest five armed robbery suspects

    The FCT Police Command said on Tuesday that it had arrested five notorious armed robbery suspects and a car snatching syndicate.

    The suspects are: John Peter, 30, gang leader, Solomon Atabo, 33, Salisu Suleiman, 29, Olobo Rilwan, 25, and Emeka Umera, 34.

    The FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Musa Kimo, who presented the suspect to newsmen, said they were arrested through the inter-agency collaboration initiative of the command.

    He explained that Peter was arrested by the police after he went into hiding on hearing that four of his members were arrested on March 6 by the Army and transferred to the command for investigation.

    Kimo said that eight locally made pistols used for the operation were recovered from the suspects.

    He said that the suspects who had all confessed to the crime would be charged to court on conclusion of investigation.

    In a related development, Kimo said the police had arrested an armed robbery/murder suspect, Obinna Echianu, 42, who hailed from  Aba in  Abia.

    Kimo said that the suspect was arrested by police attached to the command’s special anti-kidnapping squad at Apo mechanic village, Abuja on March 13.

    He said the suspect killed a cab operator who he hired on Dec. 22, 2016 at the Berger junction to convey him and his members now at large, to Airport road in Abuja.

    Kimo said the victim was murdered at the Gosa pedestrian bridge after being robbed of his phone, cash and Nissan Almera car which was driven to his house in Aba.

    The commissioner said the suspect confessed to have personally killed the deceased with the help of his cohort who was at large.

    “Efforts have been intensified to arrest his cohort who is now at large,“he said.

    Kimo said the suspect would be arraigned in court on conclusion of investigation into the crime.

    The commissioner said that the command had also arrested four suspected kidnappers linked with the kidnapping of a Fulani girl at Wumi village, in Gwagwalada area of Abuja on March 19.

    The suspects are : Abdullahi Sanda, 25, Abubakar Muhammad,30, Shehu Usman, 30, and Usman Abubakar.

    He said that the suspects were arrested with one locally made revolver and two locally made single barrel gun.

    Kimo said that the suspects were members of a notorious syndicate of kidnappers and cattle rustlers who specialised in laying siege at Fulani settlements to take their victims.

    He added that the suspects were intercepted and arrested at Wumi while trying to escape after kidnapping one of their female victims who was rescued by the police.

    “The suspects have been transferred to the command special anti-kidnapping squad for further investigation,” he said.

    Other suspects arrested according to the commissioner included eight members of a cult.

    The suspects are: Emeka Ani, Felix Oje, Promise Ezubuike, Efiong Chidi, Paul Chinedu, David Elkana,Ikechukwu Okoro and Osinachi Anyanwu.

    He said the suspects were arrested on March 23 by the police attached to Karimo division, after a tip-off from members of Angwan Shehu village in Karmo, Abuja.

    Kimo said the suspects had been terrorising and robbing the residents of the village.

    He said that items recovered from them include one pick axe and a beret.

    He said the suspects had been transferred to the command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) for discreet investigation  and prosecution.

    The commissioner said that the achievements were a result of hard work and dedication of the command to fulfill its constitutional mandate.

    He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, for his unflinching support to the command.

  • Police not biased in its handling of Ife crisis – Idris

    Police not biased in its handling of Ife crisis – Idris

    The police responded on Friday to the accusation partiality in the investigation of the recent communal crisis in Ile-Ife, Osun State, that claimed at least 46 lives.

    The clash pitched Yorubas against the Hausas in the ancient city.

    The police moved in and arrested several suspects majority of whom are Yorubas.

    The development drew sharp criticism from prominent Yoruba leaders and groups, who accused police of favouring the Hausa people in the investigation of the crisis.

    They wondered why only the Yoruba suspects are being arrested and harassed over the clash.

    However, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has dismissed the allegation of bias by the police.

    “Crime has no tribe,” he told State House Correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in different part of the country.

    He added: “if you are a criminal you are a criminal.

    “Crime has no face. We don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from.

    “As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting, we apply the law.”

    Idris expressed doubts over the involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings in Zaki Biam, Benue State.

    He said indications point in the direction of a wanted hoodlum, Gana.

    He said, “No I don’t think its Fulani herdsmen. It was a criminal who is using members of his criminal gang in the state to harass people.”

     

  • IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    IGP briefs Buhari on Zaki Biam, Ile-Ife, other crises

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Friday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on security crises in the country.

    This included the Zaki Biam crisis in Benue State and Ile-Ife crisis in Osun State which resulted in the death of many Nigerians.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, he said “I came to see the President to update him on the deployment of the police in our effort to ensure that we have security all over the country.

    “Obviously it’s to share with him our deployment strategies on ground our deployment to some of these flash points all over the country, especially Benue which is the current one, deployment to Kaduna state which started some few weeks back and deployment to the Ile-Ife crisis where recently we have a lot of police officers both special squads and investigation team on ground to conduct investigation on the matter.

    On allegation that policemen only arrested people from one section of the country during the Ile-Ife crisis, he said “You know we are police officers, crime has no tribe if you are a criminal you are a criminal. Crime has no face; we don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from. As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting we apply the law.

    Speaking on the crisis in Benue State, he said “We deployed mobile police unit on 16th of this month and of recent that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations on that Gana, one of the wanted man, this man has been in the police wanted list I now decided to deploy some special unit both investigative to go after him and get him by all means, like I said earlier definitely that man we are going to get him.”

    He also ruled out the possibility of Fulani herdsmen being responsible for the Zaki Biam crisis.

    He said “No I don’t think it’s Fulani herdsmen, it was an activity of a criminal who is using some of his criminal gangs in the state to harass people that I have assured the governor when I met with him few days ago.”

    On the alleged dissatisfaction of the President over resurgence of crimes in the country while he was away in the United Kingdom, he said “I think we are all in this country, the crisis in Kogi axis is not kidnapping, it’s a case of militants wanting to disrupt the peace in that state and we are out to get them.

    Asked to speak on the specific directives given to him by the President, he said “Obviously there should be a specific directive to ensure that all of us use all the facilities at our disposal to make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control as soon as possible.

    “I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that. Like I said earlier we have deplored a special squad to Benue and we are surely going to get that Gana  within a short time.” he said

    On the claim that the police has no strategy for fighting crimes in the country, he said “You know some of these crisis, we have to look at the origin of these crisis and the immediate cause for you to make a proper classification of these crimes,

    “If you follow some of these crimes, they are just crimes that happened without any warning, if you look at that Ife crisis, if you see how it started its just a disagreement between two people selling food along the road, so you have to look at the dynamics of the country itself.

    “Obviously when you have such situation we have to react to it. We had to move in to ensure we provide some security to the people,” he added.