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Tag: Mohammed Adamu

  • Senate grills IGP on terrorism, banditry, kidnapping

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Tuesday briefed the Senate on what the Force is doing to stem the spate of terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in parts of the country.

    The briefing which lasted about three hours was held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the issues under discussion.

    The apparent breakdown of law and order in parts of some northern states was said to have topped the exchange between the lawmakers and the IGP.

    A source that was part of the discussion described the presentation of the police boss as “grim.”

    The source who said that “it was a session of reality for us” insisted that “those at the helms affairs must act fast to rescue the country from looming danger.”

    He said that “questions were asked and answered by the police chief to the best of his ability I suppose.”

    He refused to go into details “because the issues are so grim to be discussed on the pages of newspapers. It is a matter of taking steps to address teething security challenges confronting the health of the nation and its security network.”

    He said, “You can see how the Senate President spoke about the appearance of the police chief. We have to play safe because it is security matter.

    “One thing that must be done and done urgently is that action must be taken where necessary to rescue the nation from the stifling grip of kidnappers and armed bandits. There may be no time to waste.”

    The Senate, had last week, invited the police boss to brief it on what the Police is doing to address mounting insecurity in parts of the country.

    The invitation of the police boss was sequel to a motion by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), who drew the attention of his colleagues to increasing cases of banditry and kidnapping especially along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    Read Also: Senate to probe appointment of new NYSC DG

    Immediately the IGP arrived at the National Assembly around 11.22am, he was ushered into the Senate chamber around 11.25am by the Clerk to the Senate in the company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Ita Enang.

    The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, had earlier moved that the Order Paper should be rearranged to enable the Senate take the briefing of the IGP first before any other item on the Order Paper.

    The prayer was unanimously adopted. The briefing lasted till 2.45pm.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided, said that the Senate in a closed session was briefed by police boss on armed banditry, terrorist activities, kidnapping, armed robbery and other security challenges confronting the country.

    Saraki said: “The Senate in a closed door session was briefed by the acting Inspector-General of Police on armed banditry, kidnappings, robberies, terrorist activities and other security challenges in the country.

    “The Nigerian Police should ameliorate the situation and the challenges. We hereby hope to address the menace squarely.

    “He (IGP) promised to address the areas that have to do with disciplining of officers that have been found wanting. Efforts will be taken to improve on the situation particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna axis and also on areas of intelligence and technology.

    “The Senate also promised and is committed that it is ready at any time to give assistance to provide adequate funding that is required in order to make the police to be able to combat the necessary threats to our security.”

    On his part, Adamu told reporters after the briefing that the police would recruit 10,000 officers and men this year to beef up the capability of the police in the face of mounting challenges.

    The police boss also assured that any policeman found culpable in the alleged raping and molesting ladies arrested at various nightclubs will not be spared.

    Adamu said: “We are putting in place a strategy that works. The Senate has appreciated what we have presented and they are willing to enhance the strategy. The Senate has agreed to support all our activities to make the country secure.

    “Policing is dynamic. The number of personnel we have can never be enough. But the government is trying to recruit every year. This year, we have 10,000 to recruit. We will meet up with the required number.

    “The information you got about giving N100 billion to herdsmen to stop killing is from the social media. There was no discussion like that. The source of that information is not yet known. It is somebody’s imagination.

    “The raiding of nightclubs in Abuja was done by FCT task force. They came out to do their job and they reached out to police to support them and we did that. Women were arrested and convicted. It means that they committed an offence

    “The allegation that some policemen raped and molested them, we will set up a panel to investigate the issues. Anybody caught will face the law.”

  • Breaking: IGP redeploys Kaduna CP, five others

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kaduna State, CP Ahmed Abdulrahaman and five others.

    CP Abdulrahaman who has been posted to Force Intelligence Bureau at the Force headquarters, will be replaced by CP Aji Janga, who was the CP Bauchi State.

    The IG in a statement by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in Abuja on Wednesday stated the redeployment was part of efforts aimed at rejigging the fight against armed banditry, kidnapping and other sundry crimes across the nation, particularly in Kaduna and other contiguous States.

    The statement reads: “The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police Kaduna Command, CP Ahmed Abdulrahaman from the State to the Force Intelligence Bureau, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    “CP Aji Ali Janga, who until now was the Commissioner of Police in charge of Bauchi State, takes over as the new helmsman in Kaduna Command.”

    Read Also: Kidnapping: Senate summons IGP

    “Other Commissioners of Police affected by the recent redeployment exercise include: CP Habu Sani Ahmadu, former CP Intelligence, who is now posted to Bauchi Command.

    “CP Omololu Shamsudeen Bishi is redeployed from Benue State Police Command to the Central Criminal Registry (CCR), Alagbon Lagos.

    “CP Mukadas Mohammed Garba moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to Benue State Command as the new Commissioner of Police.

    “The erstwhile CP in charge of CCR Alagbon, Lagos has now been moved to Force Headquarters, Abuja as the CP in charge of Armament.”

    The IGP charged the newly posted CPs and other strategic commanders nationwide to take urgent steps towards initiating and implementing concrete crime prevention strategies aimed at re-dominating and reclaiming the public space under their watch from the activities of monstrous criminal elements in society.

  • IGP orders reversal of 12-hour shift duty to eight

    The Acting Inspector General of Police (Ag. IGP) Mohammed Adamu has directed that the 12-hour shift duty structure in the Force be reversed to eight hours.

    Before the directive, some policemen worked for 12 hours daily or more.

    The directive, which is with immediate effect, is expected to reduce work-related stress faced by most officers, which has led to misuse of firearms and other misconduct.

    The acting IGP noted that the only time the duty structure would exceed eight hours is during local and national emergencies.

    Adamu spoke yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at the launch of the health awareness strategy for the Police Force with the theme: Stay Healthy To Secure the Nation.

    He said: “Policing, being a highly demanding job – physically, mentally and psychologically – it is pertinent to note that efficiency in discharge of police duties requires a good state of physical, mental and psychological wellbeing.

    “Indeed, arguments have been raised that the resonating incidents of misuse of firearms and other extra-judicial actions by police personnel often result directly from work-related stress and emotional conditions which disoriented their rationality.

    “In consideration of this, I have ordered that with immediate effect, the shift duty structure of the Nigeria Police, which is currently a 12-hour, two-shift system, should be reverted to the traditional eight-hours, three-shift standard.”

    Adamu explained that the directive would help to address age-long occupational stressor which long hours of duty engenders among police personnel and which causes depression and abuse of power and other professional conducts.

    “For purpose of clarity, henceforth, no personnel should be made to perform any duty exceeding eight-hours within a space of 24 hours unless there is local or national emergency,” he said.

     

  • Kidnapping: Senate summons IGP

    The Senate on Thursday heard that over 3,000 Nigerians are currently held captivity by dare-devil kidnappers in parts of the northern states.

    The startling revelation forced the upper chamber to summon the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to appear before it next week.

    Adamu is required to brief the Senate on the increasing spate of kidnapping and banditry in parts of the country and measures by the police to stem the tide.

    The invitation of the IGP followed the adoption a prayer by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on the need for Adamu to brief the Senate on the increasing spate of kidnapping in the country.

    The lawmakers believed that the IGP was in a position to throw light on general insecurity in Nigeria.

    Ekweremadu was contributing to a motion on “Senseless killing of a Briton and the abduction of three others in a Holiday Resort in Kaduna State by armed bandits” sponsored by Senator Shehu Sani and 108 others.

    He added that kidnapping of foreigners is increasing the cost of construction in the country.

    Foreign construction firms, he said, build in funds for payment of ransoms into the cost when bidding for contracts.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa in his contribution to the motion noted that businesses and other sources of livelihood, including farming have completely collapsed in most northern states.

    The Zamfara Central senator feared that unless immediate measures were taken to battle suffocating banditry there might be no Zamfara State in the next few years.

    Marafa insisted that government should, as a matter of urgency, engage the youths who were chiefly involved in banditry and other acts of criminality.

    He said: “There might be no Zamfara State in the next two years if something is not done about the insecurity in the state. I saw a video from my state where children of about 11 years are wielding AK47. This is the reality on ground in my state.

    “In Zamfara State, there are over 3,000 kidnapped victims in the dens of bandits. Banditry is not reducing. It has become a business. There is technically no business in the north, except kidnapping.

    “People have abandoned their farms in the north. There are no more peasant farmers in the north. They are being kidnapped by these bandits.

    “I disagree with my colleague from Katsina. All businesses in the north are dead. The government must employ people or they will join these bandits. The reason behind this problem is corruption.

    “We cannot employ enough security personnel to man every community in this country. Where are we going to? With due respect to my colleagues, with the kind of irresponsible leadership we have seen in states, we cannot solve this problem.”

    Read Also: Govts, Army, Senate tackle insecurity

    Senator Sani (Kaduna central) in his lead debate lamented that the north has become Nigeria’s killing fields, where bandits and other criminal elements carry on with reckless abandon.

    For him, it is regrettable that despite repeated attacks by bandits, no one has been brought to book by the government.

    The situation, he said, has emboldened bandits and criminal elements to conduct their heinous crimes audaciously.

    Sani said: “In recent times, the attacks on individuals, houses and villages have become one too many and there is no single person that has been brought to book as a result of  the wanton killings.  So much talked about efforts at combating the banditry and crime is not yielding results.

    “We are worried about the fact that perpetrators of these heinous activities tend to be gaining more courage to carry out their dastardly acts without fear of confrontation due to their acclaimed superior fire power.

    “The unfortunate event of 19th April, 2019 where armed gun men raided a resort called Kajuru Resort in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, a Briton, Ms. Faye Mooney and a Nigerian, Mr. Mathew Oguche were killed and three others abducted has put more fears into Nigerians.

    “Ms. Faye Mooney was a humanitarian worker with an NGO, Mercy Corp, who had worked in war torn countries like Iraq and Kosovo helping the needy, the vulnerable and internally displaced persons.

    “Recall that earlier in the year, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered senior security chiefs to curb kidnapping in the region when four western tourists, two Americans and two Canadians were abducted in Kaduna in an ambush in January that left two of their police escorts dead.”

    Sani continued: “Banditry has reached a tragic level in Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger States. It is not overstatement to say that the country is at war. Kidnapping has reach such a tragic level that people are losing hope about the ability of government to protect them.

    “It is unfortunate that this has continued despite all sorts of operations launched by security operatives. It has reached such a level that highly placed persons have abandoned the roads for the train. We have all seen how the seed of destruction has moved beyond Zamfara State to other parts of the north.

    “We can no longer afford to fight 21st century crime with 20th century system. The idea of keeping police men to open booths at check points can no longer suffice in the north.

    “The problem used to be for only poor people. Now it has moved to the upper class of people. If this trend continues a time will come when all people in the north will move to Abuja because Abuja is where the paradise is. As time goes on there will be no heaven in Abuja.

    “We must begin to tell truth to power. Zamfara has become a cancer spreading to other parts of Nigeria. The blame should be on every person who has the opportunity to speak truth to power and refuses to do so.”

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noted that the country must find permanent solution to insecurity in the country.

    Saraki said: “When we talk about the way forward, we must be true to ourselves. In discussing this issue, we must be frontal. We need to tell ourselves where this started from. We must not see it from the eyes of political parties or anything sentimental.

    “There was a time when we couldn’t even talk to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for over a year. He refused to honour our invitation. We need to be serious whether we want to find a solution or just play to the gallery.

    “I am aware that people have now deserted Kaduna expressway because of insecurity. In the past, kidnapping was done in the city. Today, it is different. Nowhere is safe anymore. We need to tell ourselves the truth and find a way out of this mess. We must find a solution.”

    The curious aspect of the motion was the listing of imprisoned Senator Joshua Dariye as one of the 108 senators that sponsored the motion.

    Dariye who “represented Plateau Central Senatorial District” is currently serving a 14 year jail term following his conviction by a Federal High Court.

    He was convicted for alleged money laundering.

    The listing of Dariye as one of the sponsored of the motion on senseless killings in Kaduna State, may have given credence that he is still enjoying his salary and allowances as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Sani jokingly told reporters that the name of Dariye was not on the Order Paper he used on the floor of Senate for the motion.

    The Senators who observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls urged security authorities to intensify the search for the perpetrators so as to bring them to book.

    It urged the government to set up inter-agency task force to tackle cases of banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Niger States.

    The Senate also urged security agencies to give special security cover to foreign workers and tourists as well as to immediately deploy the use of drones and interceptors in tracking kidnappers.

    It urged community leaders, traditional leaders and all stakeholders to co-operate with security agencies.

    It urged telecommunication firms to provide agencies with information in areas where there are kidnappings.

    It agreed to send a delegation to the British embassy and condole the British Government.

  • Breaking: IGP orders reversal of shift duty structure in police

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has ordered the immediate reversal of the shift duty structure of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The shift structure, which is currently a 12-hour, 2-shifts system has been changed to the traditional 8-hours, 3-shifts duty standard.

    Read Also: IGP to Christians: be security conscious

    He said this while declaring open the conference of heads of Police Medical Facilities at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

     

    Details Later….

     

     

     

  • Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal gets new boss

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adam has deployed Mr Maikudi Shehu to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) command of the Force as the new commissioner of police.

    The spokesman for the command, DSP Gbolahan Moronfolu, confirmed the deployment in a statement on Wednesday.

    Moronfolu said that the EOD new boss had since resumed duty.

    REad also: Kidnappings: Intelligence information hoarding hampers police work, says IGP

    According to him, Shehu takes over from CP Kayode Egbetokun, who had been redeployed to the Kwara command.

    “CP Maikkudi Shehu is from Kebbi State. He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on March 3, 1990. He has BA (Hons) in English Literature from ABU Zaria in 1983, and Masters Degree in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice from same institution.

    “He attended many courses within and outside the country and has served in various capacities of the force.

    “His desire is to work assiduously and harness his potential, experience with a view to repositioning EOD command for a higher quality service delivery,” he said.

  • IGP to Christians: be security conscious

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police (Ag. IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has advised Christians to be security conscious as they celebrate Easter.

    The police chief also directed Assistant Inspector Generals of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in sonal and state commands across the country to deploy their men adequately to vulnerable areas to ensure hitch-free celebration.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, by Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), reads: “As part of measures to ensure a peaceful and incident-free Easter celebration, Ag IGP Adamu has directed AIGs of CPs in zonal and state commands across the country to deploy adequate intelligence, human and operational assets of the Force to ensure intensified routine patrols and protection of vulnerable points within their jurisdictions.

    Read also: Why Police are ineffective, by Acting IG Adamu

    “These include major highways, places of worship, residential areas, recreation centres, motor parks, financial institutions, government/private infrastructures and all places of public resort.

    “They are also directed to ensure that their officers and men conduct themselves in most professional manner, in line with extant laws and standard best practices before, during and after the festival.”

  • Police wardens dismissed over death of NSCDC staff

    Two traffic wardens TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit have been dismissed and charged to court for complicity in the death of a staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ASC Ogah Jumbo.

    Their arraignment followed investigation, which indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.

    A statement by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in Abuja on Wednesday also noted forensic analysis by a pathologist as seen in the autopsy report clearly traced the cause of death to injuries inflicted on the deceased during his encounter with the traffic wardens.

    Details of the update into the cause of death of Ogar read: “In keeping with the assurances by the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, to ensure a transparent, accountable, comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late ASC Ogar Jumbo, an Assistant Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police have today arraigned in Court the two Traffic Wardens – TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit for complicity in the unfortunate death of the NSCDC Officer.

    “The arraignment of the erstwhile Traffic Wardens is sequel to the outcome of investigation into the case of alleged discreditable conduct and unlawful exercise of authority reported against them on 20th March, 2019.

    “The former Traffic Wardens had earlier been subjected to the internal disciplinary procedures of the Force – tried in an Orderly Room, and dismissed before the arraignment.

    “Police investigations positively indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.”

    On the outcome of the autopsy, Mba said: ​”For avoidance of doubt, the autopsy report states in part that the death was due to blunt force injury to the head, multiple skin and soft tissue injuries on the fore head and face, and that there was no natural disease in the body to sufficiently explain the sudden death.”

    He also stated that the two traffic wardens have been remanded in Kuje Prisons pending the next adjournment of the case.

    The IGP warned that like the indicted traffic wardens, any police officer found wanting for unlawful use of force and other sundry offences, will be publicly named, shamed and brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.

  • DPOs, others will now be culpable for men’s misdeeds, says Acting IGP

    Police chief Mohammed Adamu yesterday in Lagos warned his men against extrajudicial killing, saying those involved won’t go unpunished.

    He said their supervisors, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer and Sectional Head would also be sanctioned for failing in their duties

    The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was in Lagos over the killing of two persons – Kolade Johnson and Adaobi Ifeanyi – by some policemen in Onipetesi and Ajegunle on March 31 and last Saturday.

    He visited Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at Lagos House, Alausa,  as well as addressed officers of the state command at the Police College, Ikeja.

    Adamu told Ambode that the killings were unfortunate, adding that the officers involved had been arrested and were being tried internally.

    “But they will eventually be charged to court for prosecution. We are to serve the public by protecting lives and property and we are doing this dutifully, but the act of a few of us is denting the good work the majority is doing,” he said.

    Read also: Police officers to Buhari, Senate: investigate IPPIS over salaries

    Ambode said under his watch in the last four years,    the police have kept Lagos safe.

    The governor promised to continue to support the police to discharge their duty effectively.

    At the Police College, the IGP said:  “I am sounding this note of warning, loud and clear that any police personnel, who insists on being incorrigible by engaging in abuse of his or her power or misuse of his or her weapons with fatal outcome and in utter disregard to statutory provisions will be arrested, investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery, and if found culpable, shall be dismissed.

    “In addition, such personnel will be charged with murder or sundry offences, depending on his or her level of criminal liability.

    “The line supervisors of such officers, including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Head shall be held liable for lacking supervision and shall be similarly sanctioned.

    “Rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology, commonly known as Taser or Stun Guns by the police for routine patrols as a strategic approach towards reducing incidence of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police.

    “In perfecting these initiatives, we shall be engaging with human rights bodies, international agencies, development partners and civil society organisations.”

    He promised more administrative actions directed at giving  new orientation to the police and rejigging the command.

    “This may involve personnel re-organisation. There will be nationwide tailor-made training and capacity development programmes directed at reorienting personnel,” the police chief said.

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu noted that Adamu was visiting the command at an inauspicious time.

    “The Lagos State Police Command would have loved to welcome the IG on a better note than the one that brought him. It is sad and unfortunate that the IG is visiting Lagos due to the continuous misdemeanour of some policemen in Lagos’’,  he said, adding: “However, the command is blessed with hardworking officers making sure crime is reduced.”

  • Killer cops: IGP to outlaw use of firearms during patrols

    The acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu Monday said the police would ban the use of firearms during patrols to stem incessant shootings of Nigerians by operatives.

    Adamu stated this during a visit in Lagos where he also warned that any cop who engages in indiscriminate use of firearms would be dismissed, charged with murder and his supervisor, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Area Commander sanctioned for not executing their supervisory roles.

    According to the police chief, the service would introduce the use of technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology which is commonly known as Taser or Stun Guns for routine patrols.

    He said: “In the long term, rather than the use of firearms, we shall henceforth use technologies and weapon systems such as electro-muscular disruption technology which is commonly known as Taser or Stun Guns for routine patrols as a strategic approach towards reducing incidents of fatalities associated with misapplication of lethal weapons by the police.

    “In perfecting these initiatives, we shall be engaging with human rights bodies, international agencies, development partners and civil society organisations.”

    Read also: Policemen to undergo weapon handling training

    Sounding a note of warning to his officers and men at the Police College in Ikeja, Adamu said he specifically visited to make some clear statements.

    “I am sounding this note of warning, loud and clear that any police personnel that insists on being incorrigible by engaging in abuse of his or her powers or misuse of his weapon with fatal outcomes and in utter disregard to statutory provisions will be arrested, investigated through our internal disciplinary machinery, and if found culpable, shall be dismissed from service.

    “In addition, such personnel will be charged to court for murder or sundry offences depending on his or her level of criminal liability in the instance. Furthermore, the line supervisors of such officer including the Area Commander, Divisional Police Officer or Sectional Head shall be held vicariously liable for lacking supervision and shall be similarly sanctioned,” he said.

    Adamu confirmed an earlier report by The Nation on posting of cops who had spent over four years in Lagos and other commands, stating that the action would give a new orientation to all police personnel as well as rejig the commands.

    “This may involve personnel re-organisation. There will be nationwide tailor-made training and capacity development programmes that are directed at orientating personnel to human rights and professional conduct,” he said.

    Earlier, Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu expressed displeasure at his men’s misconduct which has prompted his boss to visit the state.

    “The Lagos State Police Command would have loved to welcome the IG on a better note than the one that brought him. It is sad and unfortunate that the IG is visiting Lagos due to the continuous misdemeanor of some policemen in Lagos.

    “However, Lagos State Police Command is blessed with hardworking officers, working day in and out to make sure crime is reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.