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Tag: IG

  • Poll: IG bans use of unmarked vehicles

    Acting Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu yesterday banned unauthorised use of unmarked vehicles and vehicles with covered number plates.

    The ban was issued in Abuja yesterday through a statement Force spokesman Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    IG Adamu gave the order following intelligence report that vehicles with covered number plates might be used to commit electoral-related offences before, during and after the rescheduled Governorship and House of Assembly polls on Saturday.

    According to the police boss, covering of vehicle number plates amounted to a breach of the Road Traffic Act and others laws.

    Read also: Ekiti govt, police battle robbers, kidnappers

    IG Adamu said such practices could also impact negatively on national security and heighten criminal activities.

    He, therefore, directed all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zonal and state commands to strictly enforce the order.

    The IG warned further that any security personnel found escorting their principals with an unmarked vehicle or covered vehicle number plates, would be arrested and dealt with accordingly.

    The statement reads: “The IGP gave this order on Tuesday, 5th March, 2019, following intelligence report that the unwholesome practice may be deployed by some unscrupulous persons to aid the commission of electoral related offences before, during and after the Saturday, 9th March, 2019 Gubernatorial/House of Assembly elections.

    “Apart from the above immediate possible threats to the polls, the IGP also noted that the covering of Vehicle Number Plate amounts to a clear breach of the Road Traffic Act and other relevant laws of the land.”

  • IG to officers: escorts VIPs on polls’ days, be arrested

    •Falana restates need for election offences tribunal

    ANY police personnel caught in company of politicians or other categories of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) on election days will be prosecuted, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has warned.

    He said an Election Monitoring Investigative Team has been set up for the purpose of apprehending and prosecuting anyone found breaching electoral laws during and after the exercise.

    This came as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, canvassed for the creation of Electoral Offences Tribunal, if the country is truly desirous of addressing electoral malpractices and conducting free, fair and credible elections.

    Election Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) in conjunction with HEDA Resource Centre and others, said 4,000 observers will be deployed to every local government areas.

    Speaking at a public presentation of partnership by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), HEDA Resource Centre and other partners for the coverage of the February and March general elections, the acting IG also said any police officer and security personnel attached to election centres, from polling booths to the collations centre that are not wearing identification tags should be immediately reported to the relevant security agencies.

    He said arrangements have been completed to secure the country even as the Police are keen to prove its non-partisanship having put in place and ready to implement the security strategies for a credible election to prove its unbiased stance.

    On what would happen to the policemen attached to the VIPs, Adamu said: ” I said it before and let me repeat it here, on election day, nobody will move with police personnel and we have told our personnel that if we see them moving with any VIP, whether in uniform or mufti, they will be arrested.”

    He said the police are determined to ensure maximum security for the electorates as well as electoral officials and their materials, urging local and foreign observers, as well as political parties to adhere strictly to the election guidelines as rolled out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Read also: Abiodun is next Ogun governor, says Osinbajo

    Falana, who chaired the event, regretted that lip service has always been paid to addressing electoral malpractices by successive governments.

    He said Electoral Offences Tribunal would provide an enduring solution to the recurring challenge.

    He said Nigeria has laws that can adequately address the electoral challenges, but the courts created loopholes for politicians to latch on since 1999, which was why no one has been prosecuted  despite the many cases of monetary inducements being witnessed across the nation.

    Saying that rather than concentrate on apprehending vote buyers and sellers on election days, attention should be focused on pre-election breaches like excessive campaign funds;  monies spent on decampees; monies spent on the media to make phony demographics that create psychological warfare on voters; monies spent on religious leaders like the over N5b allegedly spent in 2015; monies spent in hiring crowd at political rallies; monies spent on thugs hired to disrupt rallies; and monies given to electoral officers to manipulate figures.

    He regretted that beneficiaries of inducement of voters were completely insulated from indictment.

    He said: “If you want to challenge violation of Electoral Law, we are to go beyond those that’ll be arrested on the day of the  election. Cooperation of the police and other security agencies is needed and it will be easy to arrest, but what to do with the suspects after is another thing.

    “Police will charge the offenders to court, but we are all aware that all over the country, those cases are usually withdrawn by Attorney Generals (AG) of the states of the ruling parties.”

    “Yes, there are Election Tribunals, but they won’t bother with electoral offences committed, it was not until the Second Republic that the tribunal recommends trial of offenders.

    “Since then, it has always been difficult to prove that beneficiaries of inducements did give the directives that voters be induced. The laws are there but the court says once you can’t establish the nexus of inducements with the political parties, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

  • IG: Police Mobile Force ready to protect INEC officials, others

    ACTING Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu said yesterday that the Police Mobile Force (PMF) units are ready to protect Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials,  local and international observers and other sensitive materials.

    Adamu also said they would be deployed to strategic locations across the country to enable them respond quickly to any security threat.

    He assured Nigerians and the international community that the PMF officers that would be deployed on election security operations have been adequately exposed to tailor-made professional trainings towards ensuring that they undertake their duties in the most civil manner.

    Adamu spoke in Abuja during a meeting with the Squadron Commanders of the 68 PMF squadrons across the country.

    Giving details of the roles to be carried out by the commanders and each unit during the election, the IG said: “The mandate of the Police Mobile Force as prescribed in Section 25 of the Police Act Cap 359, Laws of the Federation 1990 is to act as a strike force that can rapidly be deployed as a cohesive specialised police component to complement the conventional police detachments in performing critical internal security assignments. They could also be deployed to support the military in national security operations. It is within this context that the PMF are currently actively involved in the counter-terrorism campaign in the Northeast and other special operations along with the military in other parts of the country.

    “In line with its mandate and in relation to the election security plans, the PMF will be deployed to provide robust protection for local and international election observers, INEC officials and sensitive electoral materials as well as critical national infrastructures.

    “They shall also be engaged in supporting the other arms of the force in undertaking intelligence-led operations in areas identified as high-risk in the threat analysis report.

    He added: “The police mobile units shall be located at strategic places across the country to respond swiftly to any security threat, while also undertaking street patrols to deter criminal acts in the course of the elections. Details of these deployments shall form part of our discussion during this conference.”

    Adamu called on politicians and the electorate to place national security interest above their personal interests and be guided by the overriding obligation to situate all their actions within extant rules.

    “The police under my watch are firmly committed to ensuring a robust election security management that will guarantee a conducive environment for citizens to freely exercise their electoral franchise. Nonetheless, we are fully prepared to deploy our uniquely potent assets to deal decisively with any individual or group that may attempt to threaten our internal security interests before, during or after the general elections.”

  • IG raises alarm over stockpiling of arms by politicians

    ACTING Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has accused some politicians of stockpiling arms ahead of the February and March elections.

    Adamu also stated that the police would not hesitate to deal with any politician, whose attitude contravenes the Electoral Act.

    The police boss stated these in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations as part of preparation for the elections.

    The meeting was called to review the national security threat assessment report received from different security sources and advance ways of mitigating them ahead of the elections.

    As part of measures to ensure a hitch-free election, the IG urged the DCPs to begin raids of black spots to curtail likely threats to the electoral process.

    Adamu also asked the police officers to make plans for the mobilisation or deployment of sister security agencies that will be available for the election.

    On some of the challenges the Force is confronted with ahead of the elections, Adamu said: “We remain genuinely concerned about the disposition of some ill-advised political actors, who appear bent on threatening our democratic values and our national security all in their desperation to project their narrow political interests over and above national interests.

    “We are also concerned about subversive actors who masquerade as politicians and are taking advantage of the freedoms that our democracy has bestowed on the citizens to encourage hate speeches and misinformation, and inflame passion in a manner that could threaten our stable political order.

    “Equally worrisome are reports of firearms build-up by some political actors and threats in some other quarters to disrupt the electoral process. We also note an increasing level of political intolerance, which has been occasioning pockets of inter-party violence and destruction of campaign billboards across the country.  All of these constitute not only serious electoral or criminal infractions, but major national security threats.”

    Read also: Afenifere endorses Buhari for 2019 presidential election

    On the punishment to be meted out to those who fail to adhere to the Electoral Act, the IGP said: “To the individuals and groups engaged in these unacceptable activities, let it be known that the Force leadership shall charge the Heads of Operations of the Nigeria Police, who are here gathered to return to their areas of jurisdiction and do just two things – protect the law-abiding, but identify, isolate and deal decisively with any political actor that acts in contravention of the Electoral Act or our Criminal Laws.

    “This is our sacred mandate and this we shall perform within the dictates of the law and in the overriding national security interest.”

    He also assured Nigerians and the international community of the Force’ unwavering determination to emplace strategies and initiate actions that would guarantee a peaceful, secure and level-playing field for all political actors and citizens to freely exercise their voting rights.

  • IG retires seven DIGs

    Acting Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Adamu has retired all the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs).

    The retired DIGs, who were Adamu’s senior, served with former IG Ibrahim Idris.

    They are: DIGs in charge of Finance & Administration, (Maigari Dikko); Operations (Habila Joshak); Information & Communications Technology (Emmanuel Inyang); Logistics & Supply (Agboola Oshodi-Glover); Research & Planning (Mohammed Katsina); Training & Development (Sani Mohammed) and Federal Criminal Investigation & Intelligence (Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah).

    One of the affected DIGs confirmed the retirement to The Nation last night.

    “Well, I believe the news of our retirement should be true and the Force spokesman should be the best person to confirm it to you,” the DIG said.

    On whether he has received any official letter of retirement, the DIG said: “Officially, not yet, but I think the Force Public Relations Officer will confirm it to the media soon.”

  • IG assures INEC of adequate security during polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  yesterday got an assurance from Inspector-General (IG) Mohammed Adamu of adequate security before, during and after the forthcoming elections, it was learnt.

    Adamu gave the assurance when he briefed the Commission and sister organisations at the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the IG assured that adequate arrangements were in place to guard all polling units and voting points by at least three security personnel with the police taking the lead.

    He said that units of mobile policemen will be deployed to patrol all the country’s senatorial districts to check unauthorised movements and potential trouble makers.

    He said: “The location of the RACs (Registration Area Centres), polling units, voting points and collation centres will be adequately manned. There will be at least three security personnel at each polling unit. Units of mobile policemen will be deployed to every senatorial district, where there will be constant patrols to check unauthorised movements and those who might want to cause trouble.

    “We are deploying three days before the election and after the election, we will remain behind for the next two days. All security personnel will remain behind after voting had taken place and they will accompany election officials as they move the results.

    “From the ward collation centre, they will move to the local government collation centre where they will meet other security personnel already stationed there. From there, they will all move to state collation centre. So, as they are moving, the number of security personnel keeps increasing up to the state collation centre.”

    According to him, the Federal Government has provided the police with the required resources to carry out its duties during the general elections.

    “The government has already paid the allowances of the personnel and every policeman will get his allowance before he moves to the field. The government has also provided us with the means of getting transportation.”

    Mr. Adamu stated that the police had already carried out series of in-house trainings, based on the rules of engagement designed by INEC.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu commended the new police chief’s willingness to partner with the Commission for the successful conduct of the polls.

    Participants at the meeting include: INEC National Commissioners, the National Security Adviser Gen. Babagana Mungoro, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Muhammed Babandede, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi

  • IG, bring back road blocks

    Sir: I wish to make a passionate appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to order the police to return to our roads. Nigerians may recall that the IG recently ordered the Nigerian police nationwide to dismantle road-blocks mounted in our highways before the end of this year. Some Nigerians have viewed the order as welcome development in view of the unpleasant incidences of extortion and extra-judiciary killing of civilians by happy trigger police officers that characterized operations of road blocks. Other Nigerians, including this writer however, see the development as untimely due to the rampant cases of insecurity bedeviling the country. To many motorist and passengers who ply our roads on daily basis, road block mean different things to them. To some, it means harassment or extortion whereas to others, the presence of police officers on the highways subdues fears and calm fraying nerves that our roads are safe.

    Even men of the underworld become jittery whenever they sight road blocks with police officers manning them. While the removal of the roads block may temporary ease traffic congestion and corruption being witnessed in our highways, it would make our roads more vulnerable to arm robbers, kidnappers and other criminals. With the glaring cases of insecurity across the country, roads blocks should not be removed but enhanced. The approval of new welfare packages for our police officers by the president recently will reduce corruption and spur them to give their best in the fight against crimes in the country.

    As at the time of writing this piece, former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, was assassinated by the unknown gunmen on his way to farm. Also, General Alkali was killed this year when he was travelling to Bauchi. If our retired military officers will become the victims of these criminals, what will be the fate of ordinary Nigerians who ply our roads? Dear IG, Nigerians still needs road blocks.

     

    • Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State.

  • IG warns personnel against mounting roadblocks

    INSPECTOR General (IG) Ibrahim Idris has directed Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Zones and Command to ensure that no roadblock is mounted anywhere in the country during the yuletide.

    He also emphasised that the ban on roadblock includes those by revenue agencies, who are prohibited by law not to obstruct any road or highway under the guise of collecting revenue.

    The police boss ordered the CPs and AIGs to ensure visibility policing and crime prevention patrols in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR) throughout the country to ensure safety and free passage for all travellers nationwide.

    The Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said police personnel will be on 24 hours round-the-clock surveillance and robust vehicular patrols throughout the yuletide and the new year.

    Highlighting the security arrangements made, Moshood said: “The IG Ibrahim has ordered the implementation of robust and elaborate security arrangement to ensure a hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebration.

  • Secondus demands resignation of IG, INEC chair

    •Atiku to Buhari: sign Electoral Act Amendment into law

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus has demanded the immediate resignation of Inspector General Mr. Ibrahim Idris and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    Secondus, who spoke at PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, said the party has lost confidence in the capacity of the IG and the INEC Chairman to guarantee free and fair elections.

    He insisted that both the IG and the INEC aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) in rigging the last Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections.

    Secondus warned that the PDP would not accept the outcome of rigged elections, adding that there would be a national crisis, if the 2019 elections were rigged.

    Also speaking at the event, the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar, expressed his readiness to engage President Muhammadu Buhari in a public debate on key national issues in the 2019 elections.

    His speech was interrupted with a snide remark from an unidentified voice who asked if Atiku was referring to “Jubril”, an alleged non-existent body double of the President. The mischief has been trending in the social media space lately.

    Atiku, however, replied the voice, asking: “Which Jubril? Is it the one in Sudan or the one in Abuja?”, a remark that drew an outburst from the party faithful present in the hall.

    The opposition presidential candidate called on the President to sign into law, the Electoral Act amendment which is on his desk, if he is really interested in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

    Atiku said signing the Electoral Act Amendment into law was necessary because elections were governed by laws and that good laws were required to ensure credible elections.

    “Such laws constrain the behaviour of all who are involved in the electoral process, including the candidates and their supporters, security agents and the electoral umpire (in this case the INEC)”, Atiku said.

    He said if elected, his administration would enthrone a policy of strict adherence to fiscal responsibility in the conduct of government business.

    Atiku said: “Our aim is to work very hard and collectively liberate our nation from the shackles of hunger, starvation, deprivation, bloodletting, killings and division, which bedevil us today. We must all work hard to return our nation to the path of harmony, peace and progress.

    “We need to be disciplined in our campaign because we are facing a desperate APC. The coming election may be the toughest presidential election since the return of democracy.

    “The APC has chosen personal attacks over issues, instead of campaigning on achievements. My campaign will be focused on issues not character assassination and personal attacks.

    “We should be telling Nigerians what we want to do differently to get Nigeria working again. We must be vigilant at the polling units. We must demand the removal of the IGP. Elections are governed by laws and rules guiding the behaviour of all those involved.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who also spoke at the event, urged party leaders and stakeholders to remain united and strong as the elections draw nearer.

    The party inaugurated a 154-member Campaign Council after the NEC meeting, with Secondus named as chairman of the council.

    Atiku is co-chairman of the council and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is co deputy chairman.

    Other members of the council are the governors elected on the platform of the party, the party’s principal officers of the National Assembly, all the presidential aspirants that contested with Atiku, former ministers, former principal officers of the National Assembly, members of the PDP National Working Committee and others.

     

  • We’ve 334,000 policemen, says IG

    Inspector-General of Police ( I-G) Ibrahim Idris has put the figure of policemen in Nigeria at about 334, 000.

    Idris spoke yesterday in Abuja at the 2018 Safe School Leadership Empowerment Conference and Awards.

    Represented by Commisioner of Police Olusegun Odumosu of the Inspectorate Department at the Force Headquarters, the IG said in spite of the challenges confronting the force, it had evolved modern strategies, principles and modules to keep up with security demands.

    He noted that kidnapping remained one of the most disturbing crimes plaguing the Nigerian society, adding that schools had been repeatedly targeted by kidnappers.

    Idris attributed kidnappings to settlement of political conflicts bordering on struggle for power.

    He said that it was a collective responsibility of all Nigerians to facilitate a holistic security approach to reverse the disturbing trend.

    “In view of the need to make our schools safe, especially in the task of providing and enabling and conducive learning environment for the students,”he said.

    He called for a 24-hour security protection in addition to round the clock surveillance activities and motorised patrol of the school vicinity.

    The I-G also called for the introduction of community policing strategy, adding that it would reduce cases of kidnapping.

    He noted that it was the responsibility of all stakeholders in the education and security sectors to continue to work hand in hand.

    Idris said that with the increased in funding for the police by the Federal Government, the force would be better postponed to discharge its duties effectively.

    He commended the organisers of the conference, Safe School Academy International, a Non-Governmental organisation (NGO) over the initiative.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other organisers are: Exam Ethics Marshals International and Ethics Resources Centre Nigeria.

    The conference was also attended by representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCD), the military, Fire Service and school proprietors among others.