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Tag: Inspector-General of Police

  • Bayelsa probes killings, vows to prosecute perpetrators

    The Bayelsa State Government on Friday said it had launched investigations into the violence that left three youths dead and many others injured in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

    The government vowed to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all the hoodlums including high-profile politicians fingered in the bloody clash.

    Brass, an oil-rich local government area, has been on the spotlight for bloody clashes involving thugs suspected to be members of the two dominant political parties in the area – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking in Government House, Yenagoa,the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), also confirmed the nine-hour curfew (9pm to 6am) imposed in the area saying it remained in force.

    Jonah said preliminary investigations showed that the mayhem was sponsored by some highly-placed individuals for political purposes.

    He said the state government directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure thorough investigation into the activities of the hoodlums and ensure the prosecution of all persons indicted despite their statuses.

    Jonah urged all good people of the state, especially the people of Brass to remain law-abiding, insisting that the government would take all necessary lawful measures to maintain peace, law and order.

    He said: “It has come to the knowledge of the state government that on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, some hoodlums at Ada-Ama, Twon-Brass in Brass LGA of the state attacked peace loving members of Twon-Brass community with knives, guns and other dangerous weapons and injuring several persons and destroying property valued several millions of naira.

    “The said persons kept the entire Twon-Brass community under seige for several days and perpetrated mindless violence in the community. Security personnel eventually arrested some of the hoodlums with guns and other dangerous weapons along with very substantial sums of money.

    “Men of the Nigeria Police only succeeded in bringing the situation under control on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

    “The state government is greatly dismayed that Twon-Brass, which is a major oil exporting terminal in the country is recently being used by non-state actors as a hub of criminal activities with its attendant adverse effect on the economy of not only the state, but of the entire country.

    Read Also: Jones Abiri returns to Bayelsa, relieves ordeal

    “The state government has consequently imposed curfew in Twon-Brass from 9pm to 6am. All residents of the area are expected to comply with the curfew, which will be lifted as soon as normacy is restored.”

    Also, the Caretaker Chairman, Brass LGA, Victor Isaiah, and a member representing Brasa Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Israel Sunny-Goli, are at loggerheads over the bloody clash that occurred on Monday.

    It was learnt that the victims of the clash were suspected thugs loyal to Isaiah and Sunny-Goli of the PDP and the APC respectively.

    The APC on Thursday sent a protest letter to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over the incident, claiming that two of its members were killed in the violent attack by PDP thugs.

    But Isaiah countered the allegation, saying that the thugs were sponsored by Sunny-Goli.

    Isaiah distanced the PDP from the violence, alleging that the youths made attempt on his life by attacking his personal lodge with guns and other dangerous weapons.

    He said attempts by the alleged APC thugs to gain entrance into his official lodge were resisted by the LGA security volunteers group.

    Isaiah said: “A few days ago, some suspected armed APC youths attacked the local government council aid and PDP youths. Now, they attempted to assassinate me but met my absence and were resisted by our security volunteers.

    “One of the dead thugs, Kelly Ikurusi, the mastermind and leader of the Monday, August 20 failed assassination attempt on my life is a member of the APC in Brass and a known notorious criminal and cultist who escaped from police Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Yenagoa last year.

    “Before his death, he was under police wanted list for breaking out of police (SARS) custody. After the successful cell break, he ran to Brass and was provided refuge by the APC chieftain.”
    “The reports of his misdemeanors are  known in Brass as he is daily fingered for armed robbery, snatching of phones, harassment of indigenes, among others”

    He called on the Federal Government, the Inspector General of Police and other relevant security agencies to probe without bias, the alleged activities of the APC chieftain and ensure security in the community.

    The APC, on its part, accused the PDP of desperation to take over the area in 2019.

    The party alleged that the PDP was working in consonance with some individuals, hired mercenaries and security agencies to kill and unleash mayhem, threats, intimidation, unlawful arrests and detention of opposition members across the state.

    Sunny-Goli had, in a statement, alleged that the violence was allegedly initiated by the PDP through the acting Chairman, Victor Isaiah, to intimidate, kill and chase out opposition members from Brass.

  • Youths petition IGP over death of Enugu APC Council Chairman

    Youths under the auspices of Ezza Ezekuna Youth Association on Monday stage a peaceful  protest in Abakaliki the Ebonyi state capital be to protest the death of an All Progressive Congress,  APC, Local government Chairman in Ebonyi state.

    Ernest Oduu, a Lawyer, who until his death, was the Chairman of APC in Ezza South Local Area slumped on Saturday in an Enugu hotel alleggedlly owned by a stalwart of the party in Ebonyi state and later confirmed dead at a hospital.

    The Youths, numbering over 500 marched round some streets in Abakaliki before terminating the march at Government House Abakaliki.

    Addressing Journalists, they called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter and unravel the cause of the death of Mr Oduu.

    The protesters carried inscriptions like, “IGP, please investigate the death of our son; Ezza Youth mourns Barrister Ernest; We don’t want the death of our brother swept under the carpet; The cause of his death must be made public; amongst others

    The leader of the group, Leonard Alegu said that they were in the government house to protest the delay by the Enugu police command in unraveling the death of the deceased and urged the Ebonyi state government to liaise with the Commissioner for Police Enugu State to commence investigation into the cause of the death.

    “Since Saturday, 17th of August that our brother was said to have slumped and died in a hotel in Enugu, where he went to attend a political meeting, nothing have been heard about his death. We are worried that the police command in Enugu State has not commenced investigation and we are calling for justice”.

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    “We are here to make a passionate appeal to the Ebonyi State government to please liaise with the Enugu State Police command not just to investigate the cause of the death but to unravel the cause of his death because, justice will not be achieved if the cause of his death is not unraveled”, Elegu said.

    Receiving the protesters, the Chief of Staff, Ebonyi state Government House, Ofor Okorie thanked the protesting Ezza youths for embarking on a peaceful protest rather than taking laws into their hands.

    He said their action is most commendable and shows a high level of maturity and civility.

    Mr Okorie assured the youths that the state government having received their complaints would ensure that it would liaise with the police to ensure that the death of the deceased is properly investigated.

    He urged them to return back to their different houses and not to allow miscreants hijack the protest as that would not go down well with the state government.

    Ebonyi State Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Tony Olofu, said that the Ebonyi State Police command will collaborate with its Enugu State command to look into the matter.

    He further assured them that everything contained in the letter submitted to the police command would get to the appropriate authorities.

    He urged them to go back to their businesses and remain law abiding citizens pointing out that the Ebonyi State Command of the police will continue to ensure the security of lives and properties of its citizenry.

  • SARS overhaul: Group makes case for detainees

    …Hails Osinbajo

     

    A human rights group, Citizens Unite for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE-Nigeria) has tasked the Nigeria police force to declare the number of detainees being held by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to the public.

    The group which hailed the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for directing the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to overhaul SARS, also demanded that all detainees and awaiting trials in the police cells and prisons across the country be charged to court to seek justice.

    Read Also:IGP collapses SARS teams, renames unit FSARS

    CURE-Nigeria passionately appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that police carry out the action.

    In a statement made available to The Nation,  the organization’s Executive Director, Mr. Sylvester Uhaa, noted that the Acting President’s  directive, “although belated, is a welcome development and a right step in the reformation of the Police,” adding that,  “SARS has been identified with human rights violation and abuse of power, which has overshadowed its good work.”

    Uhaa, however, pointed out that, “Although SARS has contributed tremendously to the fight against violent crimes and criminality, and to the maintenance of law and order, it has operated largely outside the law, earning a bad name for itself, the Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria at large.

    “The operations of any law enforcement must be guided by the law that created it, not by lawlessness, arbitrariness and disregard for human rights, which has guided SARS operations since its creation. And we cannot allow this to continue.

    “But, we ask the Federal Government  to take a step further to direct SARS to charge all suspects in their detention camps to court so that suspects can have access to justice and fair trial and this may lead to some gaining freedom, as some of the suspects may be innocent of the alleged offences.”

    He further stated that,  “in addition, the Federal Government should direct the IGP and all detaining authorities to declare the number of people in their detention so that Nigeria will know the number of people in their detention facilities.

    “For now, we only know the number of people in prison, and this is not right. Suspects in police cells are left at the mercy of their captors and jailers, some of whom treat them like animals.

    “Finally, we demand that the current administration make use of the recommendations made by Federal Government Committees on prison congestion in the past to decongest the prisons.

    “The continued detention of people without trial for years in our police cells and prisons violates the basic fundamental human rights to fair trial, equality of all human beings under the law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and international human rights law.”

  • IGP exonerates self from NASS blockage

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday exonerated the Nigeria Police Force from the Tuesday’s blockage of the National Assembly (NASS) by security operatives.

    Idris spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the blockage of the NASS complex was a surprise to him, saying the police would soon issue a statement on the incident.

    He said “Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. So, when I get the brief, in fact we are going to issue a (press) release.

    Read Also: Ex-monarch urges IGP to release his family

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had on Tuesday sacked the Director General, Department of State Service, Lawal Daura with immediate effect, over the invasion of the premises of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Osinbajo condemned the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex, describing it as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.’’

    He maintained that the “unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.’’

  • We will not tolerate killing of Policemen – IGP

    The Inspector General of Police Force (IGP), Ibrahim Idris on Wednesday sounded a note of warning to criminals.

    The Police Chief who said the killing of Policemen in Abuja and Edo State were not justified added that the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate further attacks on its men.

    The IG disclosed this in Abuja during the monthly meeting with Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police  (AIGs), Commissioners of Police and other senior Police officers.

    Idris said some suspects who have been arrested in connection to the killings are presently undergoing interrogation.

    He said: “Our officers in Abuja, Edo and other parts of the country came under attack by some miscreants.

    “They just picked on Police officers not because of anything  but because Police have been very strong in ensuring that the right thing is done in this country.

    “Some miscreants picked on policemen not because of anything but because they stood by the law. These are done by people that don’t mean for this country.

    “The Nigeria Police Force at the various levels of responsibility will not tolerate any killing of Police officers.

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    “I want CPs of Commands, AIGs and DIGs to ensure that officers are galvanised to tackle any group of individuals or group of people that pick on policemen because they are Police officers and doing their job of providing security in various parts of the country.”

    He added: “In all parts of the country, anybody that attacks a policeman does not mean well because all we do is to protect lives and property.  We don’t take sides.

    “I think Nigerians need to understand that our commitment is to the law of this country. I think Nigerians should understand our commitment and that I believe is what some people were not happy about because I do not see any justification for anybody to attack policemen who were doing their job.”

    On those arrested, he said: “We have arrested some suspects and they are presently going through interrogation and investigation.”

    The IG who said he did not overdeploying men to Ekiti State hinted that similar number of personnel deployed to Ekiti for the governorship election would be deployed to Osun State.

    “I did not see any overdeployment. Deployments are done based on requirement.  The demand in Ekiti led to the deployment of 30,000 personnel and it is normal.We are going to do same in Osun

    “We are going to be having various elections in different parts of the country. In Osun, we are going to deploy officers to be able to provide enough security for the election in order to ensure that we record the same success recorded in Ekiti.”

    On the drama that played out where eight House of Assembly members were granted access to the Assembly and others denied entry by the Police, the Police said: “We are fully on ground to provide security. The 22 members that impeached the speaker, how did they sit? Is it not the same House? So we are not partisan.”

  • APTECH opens ultra modern IT school in Kano

    Former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Sulaiman Abba yesterday in Kano said that the newly commissioned multi million Naira Aptech Computer Education Arena situated in the ancient City of Kano, will go a long way in addressing the educational challenges of Nigerians who are yearning to become future Engineers and professional  technologists  by imparting the needed Information Technology (IT) knowledge in them to achieve their goals within the shortest possible time.

    Abba who made the disclosure during the official commissioning of the Computer Institute in Kano by the former First Lady, Dr. Maryam Abacha, said the Aptech which is an affiliate of  Middle Sex  University, London is practically out to train Nigerian students on the latest modern  IT skills .

    According to him, Aptech  Multi  Media is a world class Centre in Nigeria  set to create  career  oriented professionals  ready for the booming animations industry, in which Kano people should avail themselves with this opportunity, where students  admitted will under  go a two year Advanced Diploma Course in Computer Technology and then  proceed to the Middle Sex University for a  one year  degree course on  IT.

    “Any of our student who want to advanced his studies after the two year Diploma program should be ready to spend at least N7m in London, any of its Campuses in Malta, Dubai, and Mauritius   would attract N2m fees   through credit transfer facility of which 50 per cent discount would be awarded to the students.”

    Abba, who is the coordinator, said that Arena Multi Media is committed to providing Quality education with a focus on innovative animation and Multi Media training programs as well as practical application of industry relevant skills meant to sharpen their creative skills and job oriented trainings that will ensure all round developments that matched industry requirements.

    On his part, the Business Head Aptech India, Mr. Seetam Thakuri  Aptech is currently operating in about 4O Countries across the five continents , and was established in 1986 with a global learning solutions provider and has trained millions of students  across the  globe.

    Thakuri explained that Aptech constantly updates its curriculum, certified facility and world Class infrastructure as well as enhancing minds by offering quality training and building careers on various students and has won numerous awards for excellence in training and education globally.

  • NMPC urges Buhari to restructure Nigerian Police

    Following the spate of killings and security breaches across the country, a non-governmental organisation, primarily committed to positive change in Nigeria, the National Movement for Positive Change (NMPC), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency restructure the Nigerian Police Force in order to really check crime and provide adequate security for lives and property of the people.

    NMPC in a statement issued after its stakeholders deliberations on the recent  killings in the country also called for a well funded police, in line with modern and international practices capable of tackling modern security challenges.

    The stakeholders also explored and exposed the nitty gritty of the psychological problems confronting the security operatives in the country, particularly the police.

    The statement reads: “The police should be restructured with strict guidelines for promotion and deployment and be well funded. The office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should not be by political appointment as it is currently done.

    “The office of the IGP should also have a fixed term and this will make the force independent  and outside the control of the executive. The policy of interstate transfer of serving police officers with children in schools should be stopped.

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    “There should be a waiver clause that will exempt police officers from transfer when they have children in schools. In the last six months, there has been some recruitment in the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) to warrant increase in its budget.

    “Early this year, the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs has said that the 2018 budget proposal of the Nigeria Police is inadequate and cannot cater for the myriad of security challenges facing the country.

    “The panel chairman, Mr. Haliru Jika said in Abuja that the committee would be seeking an increase of the N332billion proposed in the budget for the police. The said budget proposal has to be reworked by the police in consultation with the Budget Office of the federation.

    “A presentation by the police showed that in 2017, the Nigeria Police proposed N342billion for capital projects but only N20.19billion was appropriated out of which N9.09billion has been released so far.”

  • Police Protest: Presidency summons IGP

    The Presidency on Monday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over the reported protest embarked by police personnel in Maiduguri, the Borno capital, on Monday.

    The police personnel were said to have protested over non-payment of their monthly salaries and allowances.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IGP was seen heading towards the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    A source at the Presidential villa, who preferred to remain anonymous told NAN that the IGP was in the villa to brief the presidency on the  protest.

    NAN reports that the Police in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the media report, claiming that the policemen only made inquiries on their allowances and salaries before returning to their duty posts.

    According to the statement, the delay in payment is due to late passage of the appropriation act, adding that with its assent by President Buhari, the issue will soon be addressed.

  • 51 families of dead officers get N29m cheque

    The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday presented cheque of N29,836,378 million to 51 families of police officers who lost their lives while serving.

    Beneficiaries cut across FCT, Niger and Kaduna State.

    The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), of police in charge of Zone 7, Taiwo Lakanu who presented cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, said it was the duty of the force to take care of officers and their families.

    Lakanu said Commissioners of Police in the state under the zone would present the remaining cheques to other beneficiaries.

    Speaking while presenting the cheques, Lakanu said: “On behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), I will like to present these cheque leaves to you: it is symbolic.”

    “Without these officers, most of us will not be where we are today because they carried out our instructions, they are most sincerely appreciated.”

    He added that the late officers paid the supreme price to curtail crimes and criminality in the country.

    Lakanu also said the IGP restated his commitment to ensure that what accrued to the families of the deceased officers was given to them.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Fitr: Police to beef up of security in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa

    He pointed out that apart from the group life insurance for officers, the IG took it upon himself  to create special welfare fund known as IGP Welfare Fund to boost the package.

    Lakanu noted that the essence of the gesture was not the money but the idea behind it which is to let the families know that they are not forgotten.

    He said: “This package is just one of the things the IGP in his wisdom planned for widows and children of the late officers.”

    He condoled with the beneficiaries and assured them of continued support of the force.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Andrew Moses appealed to the Force to continue to support the families.

    He commended the IGP for the fatherly care and urged him not to relent in efforts to support families of late officers.

  • Police Salary Slash: IG orders AIG Account to rectify problems

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Account and Budget to rectify issues of non-paymemt salary,  delay and shortage of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The AIG is expected to liase with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS,) Unit to address the problem across the country.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood.

    The IG while acknowledging the negative impact  it has on the welfare of the personnel also directed AIGs in charge of zones and Commissioners of Police to assure them that their complaints are being addressed.

    He also urged those affected to be patient.

    The statement reads: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris concerned with the issues of welfare of the entire personnel of the Force as regard delay in payment, short-payment and other problems associated with the payment of Salaries of Police Personnel across the country as a result of the full migration of the Nigeria Police Force into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), has directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Account & Budget of the Force to immediately liaise with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the IPPIS Unit to rectify the problems.

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    The Nigeria Police Force frowns at this ugly situation; the Force is also mindful of the fact that short/delay payment of salary of some personnel of the Force if allowed to continue as being witnessed will have negative impact on the welfare of such personnel.

    “Consequently, Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police in charge of States and Zonal Commands, and Heads of other formations and detachments in the Force have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to lecture and educate their personnel who have any complaint on short/delay payments to be patient that their complaints are being addressed.

    “The affected Police Personnel are also enjoined to continue to discharge their duties responsibly as the Force is doing everything possible in conjunction with Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the IPPIS Unit to ensure that all their problems and other identified issues relating to short/delay payment of salary of Police personnel across the country are permanently resolved.”