The Inspector-General of Police has placed Commissioners of Police in Niger Delta and other neighbouring states on red alert.
This follows plans by some people to embark massive and coordinated attacks on oil installations across the country.
According to a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, those who are attempting to attack oil facilities hide under the guise of being environmental activists.
The Police also said their plans were politically motivated and aimed at impacting negatively on national security, economic development and global oil market.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered specific plots by some subversive elements masquerading as climate and environmental activists to commence massive and coordinated attacks on oil installations across the country especially in the Niger-Delta region and adjoining States.
“These plots which are politically motivated are aimed at sabotaging oil installations with intended negative consequences on national security, economic development and global oil market.
“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered Commissioners of Police nationwide, and particularly in designated States to intensify their surveillance missions around oil facilities and other critical national infrastructure.
“The Commissioners of Police and other field Commanders have also been directed to put in place proactive measures aimed at neutralizing these subversive threats and bringing the plotters to book.”
The IGP warned that there would be dire consequences for persons or group of persons who may want to resort to the use of violence or threat of violence, in advancing their political or economic goals.
The Police chief while urging citizens to remain vigilant and report all suspicious characters and plots to the law enforcement agents, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring adequate security of lives, the protection of national assets and the protection of the sanctity of our political freedom and democracy.
Mr Ene Okon, the Commissioner of Police in Abia, said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has deployed his Special Technical Squad to assist the Abia command in the fight against kidnapping.
Ene said this at a meeting he held with Aba residents, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) members and policemen in the divisions under the Aba Area Command on Tuesday.
He said: “Already I have anti-kidnapping team here in Aba. I have fortified them, given them a vehicle, an office accommodation in Aba outside the area command and approved extra manpower for them.
“Let me give you one more cheering news. I was in Abuja after the elections when kidnapping reared up its ugly head here in Aba and I discussed with the IGP.
“Luckily, yesterday, the IGP dispatched his Special Technical Squad to come and meet me in Abia and they are coming with their technical equipment.
“They are coming to cover the whole of Aba and I expect them by next week,” he said, adding that “they are to remain here and fight it out.”
Ene said that crime and criminality escalated in the country after the civil war, pointing out that “since crime and criminality are dynamic, they now require technology to fight, accordingly.”
He said that Section 214 of the Constitution, which established the police, was made by the people, who are members of the community, hence it could be rightly said that the police are owned by the people.
He said that Section 216 assigns the police with the duties to protect lives and property, maintain law and order in the society, adding that the people as “creators of the police have their obligations also to the police.”
He, therefore, called on the people to assist the police perform their duties satisfactorily by being law-abiding, volunteering information and supporting police efforts.
The police boss urged policemen, who he described as “servants to the people,” to treat the people with respect as their paymasters.
He said he would not tolerate acts of indiscipline, crime and criminality, corrupt practices and abuse of citizen’s rights among policemen.
He said that he was made to understand that every policeman in Abia was desirous to serve in Aba in order to engage in corrupt practices and make money, warning that he would soon transfer some of them out of the city.
He urged the police to make discipline their watchword and thanked the PCRC for its immense contribution to the success of the command.
In their separate remarks, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Central Police Station, Aba, DPO, Uratta-Eziukwu and DPO, Ndiegoro, CSP Abii Onyeulor, CSP Princewill Ekeocha, and SP Emeka Oganyi, respectively, thanked the CP for his visit.
They appealed to him to beef up the manpower in their various divisions, provide them with functional patrol vehicles and motorcycles and post more male officers to make their work easier.
In his speech, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Opara, urged the CP to consider the request of the DPOs and help out where possible.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the streamlining of Nigerian police operations at all the ports for speedy cargo clearance and improved efficiency.
The order followed Adamu’s meeting with the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) Malam Hassan Bello at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.
“Towards this end, directives aimed at streamlining police operations in and around Ports Terminals have been given to the Maritime Police Command and other formations.
“The directives reinforce the mandate of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Maritime) and the commissioners of police in-charge of the responsibility for police operations at all ports across the country.
“No other Police Formations, Commands, Units or Teams by any designation are authorized to undertake any operation or investigation in and around any Nigerian Ports Terminals.
“Any operations must be with the knowledge, written authorization and active involvement of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Maritime) or the commissioners of Police in-charge of the Western and Eastern Ports Authority as the case may be,” he said.
The acting I-G also pointed out that the stoppage of containers to clearing agents by different units in the police has also been harmonized.
He stated that such orders would henceforth be routed through the office of the AIG (Maritime) to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council for execution.
“The implication of this order is that the Maritime Police Command is to work in conjunction with the Shippers’ Council to ensure the actualisation of the IGP’s order.” (NAN)
The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has deployed 23 senior police to States where supplementary elections will be held on Saturday.
The senior police officers comprising five Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGs), three Assistant Inspector General (AIGs) and 15 Commissioners of Police (CPs) are to provide supervision, direction and support during the election in the affected states.
The Force also disclosed that 1,119 suspects were arrested for various electoral offences during the two previous elections conducted.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, ACPFrank Mba.
On its preparation and details of deployment for the elections, the Police said: “In furtherance to his stated commitment towards ensuring hitch-free elections in the Country, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has directed the Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and their respective Commissioners of Police in states where supplementary elections are taking place to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place towards ensuring a safe and secure environment for the conduct of the elections.
“To further strengthen the security arrangements around the polls, the IGP has deployed five DIGs, three AIGs, 15 additional CPs to provide supervision, direction and support to the existing security structure already in place in those States.
“The DIGs are deployed as follows: DIG Usman Tilli Abubakar, – Adamawa State, DIG Yakubu Jubrin, – Benue State, DIG Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, – Plateau State, DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael – Kano State and DIG Godwin C. Nwobodo – Bauchi State.”
Out of the fifteen additional CPs deployed, three each were deployed to Benue and Sokoto States, two each were deployed to Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano and Plateau States while Imo State got one.
While commending the officers for their sterling performances in previous elections, the IGP charged them to remain patriotic, steadfast, professional, neutral and civil, but firm, in their conducts and actions during the make-up elections.
He warned politicians not to undermine the electoral process by engaging in untoward practices such as snatching of ballot boxes, vote trading and violence of all kinds, stressing that violators would be made to face the full consequences of the law.
The IGP also enjoined the public to cooperate with security operatives.
On the number of suspects arrested for electoral offences, Mba said: “A total number of 796 suspects were arrested for various electoral offences across the nation. These latest arrests bring the total number of all the suspects arrested in the two last rounds of elections to 1,119.”
The IGP pledged wholesome investigation and diligent prosecution in concert with INEC.
Detectives from the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have revealed that the killers of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Alex Badeh, used a Dane gun.
Air Vice-Marshal Badeh was killed on December 18 last year by hoodlums who attacked his convoy on the Keffi- Kaduna Expressway while he was returning from his farm on the border between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory. The revelation is coming on the heels of the arrest of four additional suspects believed to have taken active roles in the murder, including an informant identified simply as Maube.
The IRT source further disclosed that the arrest of the four additional suspects brought the number of suspects arrested in connection with the killing to five. It recalled that IRT operatives had on December 23, 2018, through a tip-off, arrested one Rabo Shuiabu Rabo, who allegedly fired the shot that killed the ex-CDS, and he confessed during interrogation that another suspect known as Ciroma invited him and his brother, Yayaha, for the operation. Shuaibu was said to have stated further that Ciroma, who provided three of the guns they used for the operation, including the Dane gun he used in killing the ex-CDS, did not tell him that their target was a former CDS. Shuiabu confessed that Ciroma told him that their target was coming to Panda area of Nassarawa State with a huge amount of money which he intended to use in buying a farmland in the area.
The IRT source further revealed that after Badeh was killed and one of his friends, Joseph, was kidnapped, operatives of the IRT, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, swung into action and arrested Shuiabu through information provided by some Fulani businessmen within the state, and Shuiabu’s confessions aided the IRT operatives in apprehending, Ciroma and three other suspects, namely Maube, Yayaha and Abdulahi. The source also disclosed that after the four other suspects were arrested, it was discovered that Maube, who was the middleman between the late Badeh and the owner of the farmland which he wanted to buy, contracted Ciroma and the other four suspects to attack Badeh’s convoy on the fateful day.
He was said to have been the one who brought two of the Ak-47 rifles that were used for the operation while Ciroma sourced the three other rifles, including the Dane gun that was used for the operation. The source added that when Badeh’s corpse was examined, pellets from the Dane gun’s bullet were extracted from his body. Narrating how he organised the robbery operation that led to the killing of the late ex-CDS, Ciroma said: “There was a day I went to meet a man called Maube, who lives in Kare, close to Panda area of Nasarawa State. He told me that there was a rich man who had a farm in his area and he would need some boys to rob the man. “I contacted one Shuiabu who I met in Gitata Market and told him about the plan and he got interested and brought in his brother, Yahaya. “I took their numbers, and three days later, Maube called me and said that the rich man was in his farm on that day, saying that I should call my boys. I called Shuiabu and told him that the man was on ground and Shuiabu brought two persons: Yahaya and Baso.
“They met me at Gitata and Maube called me and said that the rich man had left the farm and was driving through Panda Road. Maube took a motorcycle and followed the rich man behind while I and six others, namely Alhaji Lamido, Galma, Rabo, Shuiabu, Yahaya and Baso, waited for the man at Zomgo area of the state, close to Buratai’s farm. “Then Abdulahi, who was carrying Alhaji Maube on his bike, brought two guns to us and pointed the vehicle to us, and we came outside and waylaid it. “We had four Ak-47 rifles in that operation. I brought two Ak-47 rifles and a single-barrel Dane gun. I got one of the Ak-47 rifles from a friend known as Rontumi and another from Rugumi.
The Dane gun belongs to me, and we entered the road and blocked the man’s convoy. I don’t know who among us fired the shot that killed him because three persons fired. “I went to the man’s car, opened it and found money in it. I gave the money to Ibrahim Abdulahi and asked him to give the money to Maube. It was the next day that we knew that the person we killed was a four-star general. I don’t know the amount that was in that bag because it was with Maube.” Recalling how he was arrested, 35-year-old Ciroma, who said he has two wives and eight children, said: “I am a taxi driver and I ply the Kaduna-Keffi Expressway. “Around 5 pm on 24 December, 2018, I was at Panda Market, waiting for passengers when a bus blocked me and policemen came out of it. I was dragged into the bus and I saw Shuiabu in it. “I was swiftly handcuffed and taken to the Keffi Area Command in Nasarawa State. There they asked me if I was part of the gang that blocked the road and killed Alex Badeh, and I said no. But when I was brought to Abuja, I had no option but to confess.” On his part, Ibrahim Abudulahi, 26, a native of Kare area of Nassarawa State, said he did not know that Alhaji Maube was planning a robbery operation when he called him to take him to Gitata in December 2018. He said: “I am a farmer and I also ride commercial motorcycle because I needed extra money to fend for my family.
“Alhaji (Maube) called me on a Tuesday in December 2018 and asked me to take him to Panda area of Nasarawa State. “When we got to his shop, he asked me to stop and I did. He went into his shop and brought a bag. I didn’t know what was in the bag. He only told me to take the bag to Gitata and hand it over to Ciroma. “I went there and stopped at Buritai’s farm where Ciroma and Shuiabu and Alhaji came to meet me and collected the bag from me, after which they asked me to wait nearby, but I went to the back of Buritai’s farm and waited. “A few minutes later, I heard rounds of gunshots and Ciroma called me to come for the bag I gave him, and he also handed me another bag containing money and told me to give the bag to Alhaji Maube.” Shuiabu, 25, a native of Bade area of Kaduna State, said he was not aware that it was the bullets from his gun was that killed the Badeh, adding that he was not the only person that shot at the deceased general’s convoy. He said: “What happened was that before last year’s Christmas, I went to the market and I met Ciroma, and he told me that there was a big man who had a farm in Panda and was coming to buy another farm within the area.
Badeh Killer Suspect
“He said he would want us to rob the man when he brought the money for payment. It was on a Friday and Ciroma told me that the man was coming on a Tuesday to pay for the land. “On that Tuesday, I went to my own farm and told my friend Yahaya about it. We called Ciroma to know if the job was still on, and Chiroma asked us to come. I also called one of my friends known as Baso and we went through the back of Gitata and got to Bruitaia’s farm. “When we met Ciroma, he gave me a Dane gun but I saw five guns with him. He gave the rest to the other people with us. “When the operation started, my friend, Yahaya, was on my right with a stick and I was in the front. But Ciroma and the other guys were ahead of us. When the vehicle that was carrying the man and the money came, the people in front started shooting. “At that point, I cannot tell who killed the man. And when we got to the vehicle, Ciroma brought out a bag from it. He gave me N25,000 and said he would call me when the money was ripe for sharing. I didn’t know that the man was killed by the bullet from the gun I used for the operation.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate release of its presidential campaign spokesperson in Kogi State, Mr. Austin Okai, who was allegedly abducted Friday evening by armed thugs allegedly unleashed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party also said the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, should immediately disband the checking point in Banda, Lokoja-Abuja highway where members of opposition are allegedly being harassed and intimidated.
In a statement on Friday night by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said its members, as well as the people of Kogi state cannot stomach the abduction of Mr. Austin Okai as well as the arrest of its members for flimsy reasons by the APC.
The statement said: “PDP cautions that the continued stay in captivity of Kogi state party leaders can spark off crisis in the state.
“We urge the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to immediately step into the matter to forestall a breakdown of law and order. This is because, if Mr. Austin Okai and others are not immediately released by the APC, it would send a very wrong signal to the already agitated youth and lead to a resort to self-help.
“The PDP also alerts of the arrest of its ward chairmen in Rivers state by soldiers, particularly in Abua-Odual Local Government Area, ostensibly in compliance with the orders of the Buhari Presidency.
“The mass arrest in Rivers is coming on the heels of the clampdown of PDP members in Kano state with the arrest of our party leaders and campaign officials including our Senatorial candidate Ahmed Haruna Bichi and a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Garba Bichi.
“The PDP notes that these are two very volatile states and any act that suggests a clampdown by the authorities might lead to vehement resistance by the people and trigger crisis in the state.
“We call on Nigerians to note how the Buhari Presidency and the APC are pushing Nigerians to the wall and invite the international community to hold President Buhari directly responsible for these infractions against innocent Nigerians”.
The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, on Wednesday fixed Feb. 28, to deliver judgment in a N1.25 billion damages suit filed by Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the EFCC for ”invading and ransacking” his house in Jos.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Kurya, fixed the date High Court, after all the counsel to the parties involved in the case adopted their final written addresses.
Okorocha through his Counsel, Mr Markus Saleh (SAN), had prayed the court, in his final written address, to condemn and adjudge the invasion of his home in Jos on May 3, 2017 as illegal, null and void.
Saleh argued that Okorocha’s family members and staff were held hostage during a “search” by the police and EFCC conducted without any court warrant.
He prayed the court to declare the action of the police and EFCC as “illegal, null and void’’ and award his client the sum of N1.25 billion as general damages because there was no valid court warrant for such an exercise.
“We also pray for the issuance of a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further doing anything as such in his homes across the country, ‘’ he prayed.
Responding, the counsel to IGP and EFCC, Edwin Inegbenoise and Muktar Ali-Ahmed respectively, prayed the court to dismiss Okorocha’s the application on the grounds that it lacked merit.
Inegbenoise argued that the search was conducted by police officers attached to the anti-graft commission, there was no way the governor should include the Police in the case because those officers involved take orders only from the EFCC and not the police.
He prayed the court to strike all the allegations labeled against the IGP and the Plateau Commissioner of Police who were joined in the suit.
In his submission, EFCC counsel, Ali-Ahmed prayed the court to dismiss the case because it lacks merit since the EFCC has the constitutional powers to search any person’s house or office in the cause of any investigation more so that there was a search warrant obtained from a chief magistrate court.
“My Lord, we finally urge this honourable court to dismiss this case for lack of merit, ’’ he pleaded.
The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested six suspects connected to the assault on a lady in Edo State.
The lady in the video that went viral was stripped naked and pepper was inserted into her private part for allegedly stealing a phone.
The Police said following the viral video, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu ordered an investigation into the matter which led to the arrest of the six suspects.
The Police also said they have established contact with the female victim who is 24 years adding that her health status and recovery rate are being monitored.
The Police in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Frank Mba also said that two other suspects are currently at large.
The statement reads: “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six male suspects involved in the shocking, barbaric and indecent assault meted out on a young Nigerian female as shown in a video which recently went viral.
“Following the dehumanizing incident, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the report.
“Consequently, the Edo State Police Command, led by its Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu swung into action, leading to the investigative breakthrough.
“Two other male suspects are still at large. Efforts are being intensified to arrest them and bring all involved to justice.
“The Nigeria Police Force condemns jungle justice in its entirety and warns of dire consequences for persons who resort to criminal acts of self-help.”
The six male suspects arrested are: Otoghile Joel (owner of the phone alleged to have been stolen by the young woman), Lucky Igbinovia (alias “One Man Squad” in whose house the young woman was tortured), Edobor Osemwengie (manager of Lafun Hotel), Kingsley Iyamu, Gregg Eweka and Friday Omorogbe.
The Police also stated that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu will provide more details as the investigation progresses.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has identified community policing as the answer to winning citizens’ trust and attaining the mandate of the Force.
The IGP also said he will set up Community Policing Implementation Steering Committee composed of seasoned Nigerians and experts on community policing to support the Force in achieving its goal.
Adamu disclosed this in Abuja on Monday during the decoration and inauguration of the newly promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police.
The decorated DIGs and the departments they are in charge of include DIG Finance and Administration, Usman Tilli Abubakar; DIG Operations, Abdulmajid Ali; DIG Logistics and Supply, Frederick Taiwo Lakanu; DIG Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (FCIID), Anthony Ogbizi Michael; DIG Training and Development, Yakubu Jubrin; DIG Research and Planning, Aminchi S. Baraya; and DIG Information and Communication Technology, Godwin C. Nwobodo.
On the policy thrust of his administration, “It is in line with this reality that the emphasis of my leadership is predicated on two critical principles. First is to define a clear policing vision and strategy that will guide my leadership in dealing with internal security threats with organization being on the upcoming general elections and highly organized crimes that of national security consequences. Second is to identify and emplace sound professional and intellectual minds to support me in giving effect to the strategies towards attaining my policing vision.
“Let me clearly emphasize that policing standards and practices have to change in Nigeria if only we want to restore citizens’ trust and attain our mandate in the most effective manner.
“We therefore, need to re-strategize and take the Police back to the community. We have to also evolve new thoughts and embrace new orientation as a Police Organisation, to work with the citizens, neighbourhood, and other strategic security actors as a pathway towards addressing communal crimes.
“Henceforth, therefore, Community Policing strategy shall drive policing functions at all levels under my leadership and I look forward to working with the new Force Management Team towards giving effect to this policing vision.”
On the committee that will be established, Adamu said: “Indeed, in the coming days, a Community Policing Implementation Steering Committee composed of seasoned Nigerians and experts on community policing will be inaugurated to support us in driving this process.”
The IG while congratulating the new management team stated that promotion of officers and men under his watch will only be based on merit.
He said: “To the new Deputy Inspectors General of Police, as we celebrate your professional feat today, you must see your elevation as a call to national duty. It is also a clear statement that under my leadership, merit shall be the overriding standard that will guide promotion. You need to, therefore, rededicate yourself to service to the Nigeria Police and the nation. The task of policing a complex nation like ours is undoubtedly arduous. But with your individual and collective experiences, I am confident that together, we can surmount the challenge.”
He also expressed hope that the experience of the new management team will aid in the actualization of his vision for the Force.
He said: “I am glad that the senior officers being decorated are not only professionally and intellectually deep, their wealth of experience shall be helpful in aiding the attainment of my vision and perfecting my goals. I therefore, thank the Police Service Commission for supporting the Force in identifying these great professional minds and appointing them as Deputy Inspectors General of Police and members of the Force Management Team.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith while commending the IGP and the new team emphasized that they have enormous task ahead.
He also disclosed that what he met when he resumed office in July 2018 was disturbing adding that it was similar to what the IGP met when he resumed.
He however pledged that the Commission will continue to offer selfless and fearless care to the welfare of officers and men of the Force.
He said: “Those who know the IGP knows that he is a round peg in a round hole. The task ahead of him is not an easy task but I trust his ability with the support of the management team, I am sure he will make a success of the herculean task.
“To the officers to be decorated, I also want to congratulate them that they are able to reach the coveted rank of DIG. They reached the rank not only on seniority but I want to emphasize also on merit and I am sure they are going to be great asset to the administration of the IGP. I want to assure the IGP, the management team, officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that the PSC under my leadership will continue to give selfless and fearless care to the Force and to our country.
“I have had few meetings with the IGP and I want to say we are operating on the same frequency but I reminded him that what he met on the ground and what we met on the ground when we took over on the 25th of July last year were definitely things that will disturb a good Nigerians but gradually, we are sanitizing it especially the promotion process and I want to assure the IG, his management team, officers and men of the Force that they can only rely on us and be sure that we will continue to give good service to the Nigeria police force and to our great country.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki is alleging threat to his life and those of his family in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He accused thugs allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the police as the brains behind the alleged move to eliminate him and his family.
Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Saraki who doubles as the Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation claimed that on Thursday, APC thugs “shielded by policemen went to my family quarters in Agbaji in Ilorin, and vandalized houses, shops and inflicted wounds with matchetes on three people.”
He said: “All these destructions took place in the presence of policemen who came with them but watched without any care, as the APC thugs and supporters unleashed violence on our people.
“For me, personally, I believe the decision to attack people and properties in my family ancestral compound is a direct affront and attack on my person.
“And whatever signal these APC elements with support from the police believe they are sending is definitely sinister, uncivilized and unfortunate.”
The Senate President said the police continued to show undisguised hostility toward him and his supporters in the state.
The former Kwara State Governor said reports of the attacks were filed in relevant police stations in Ilorin, but expressed doubts that anything tangible and constructive would come out of the reports.
He stated further that as part of the plot, the police, under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, on Thursday, commenced the transfer of Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) out of Kwara State.
Saraki called on Nigerians and the entire world to hold the IGP responsible should anything untoward happen to him and members of his family.
“While the police are free to take decisions on the deployment of their personnel, we found the postings in Kwara State strange and more than a mere coincidence,” he said.
“It should also be noted that IGP has posted three different Commissioners of Police to Kwara State in the last six months. In fact, the previous and current Commissioner of Police in the state got strict instructions from the IGP not to relate or engage with the Senate President”, Saraki added.
According to him, the usual practice has been that the Commissioner of Police personally ensures the security of the Senate President whenever he visits his home state.
He said all his predecessors in office were accorded that security cover whenever they visited their home states and that he also enjoyed it in his first year in office from 2015 to 2016.
Saraki expressed apprehension over his personal safety as the ward to ward electioneering campaign is about to begin across the state.
Said he, “We need to make it clear to the entire world that now that ward to ward campaign is about to begin in the state and I am set to participate in that grassroots campaign, as I have always done, nobody is sure what instructions Mr. Idris has given to the police command in the state.
“Thus, the entire world should hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself”.
Deploring the role of the IGP in the entire plot, Saraki continued, “Do not forget that before now, this same IGP has tried several tricks to implicate me in some criminal charges.
“First, he arrested some cultists and was about to compel them to claim they worked for me. We exposed the trick early enough and the media also pointed out holes in his story. He quickly withdrew that.
“Later, he went on to the Offa robbery case and politicized the investigation in order to rope me. In the process of forcing suspects to implicate me, the principal suspect died in their custody.”
