… says attack’ll attract heavy consequences
…We’ll leave no stone unturned to decimate criminality
By Hassan Zaggi
The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, have read riot act against the increasing attack on police personnel across the country.
He, has, therefore vowed that enough is enough of such attacks.
Speaking at a meeting with strategic police managers in Abuja, on Tuesday, the IGP warned that: “We will not condone deliberate and unprovoked harassment, attacks, and unwarranted killings of our Police Officers who have dedicated themselves to securing lives and property of all Nigerians.
“Every such attack or killing henceforth will be met with a commensurate and lawful force as an attack on a public officer in the line of duty is tantamount to an attack on the state.
“Enough is Enough. This strong warning is made clear again so that evil-doers, criminals, and agents of destruction in Nigeria will know that their offences against the state, its agencies, and its people will not go unpunished.”
The IGP, therefore, noted that the police under his watch is fully prepared to suppress, decimate and neutralise criminality and heinous activities of non-state actors, who, according to him, cause pains, and sorrows in any part of the country.
Angered by the recent looting of food warehouses and shops in parts of Adamawa state, the IGP assured that the Force will do everything possible to ensure that such criminal act does not reoccur in other parts of the country,
He, therefore, directed Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) to henceforth emplace round the clock provision of security at all government warehouses as well as strategic storage facilities and never allow the repeat of the Adamawa incidents.
“It must be noted that the Force is poised to provide all necessary support to the Federal Government as it seeks workable solutions and succor to the present economic situation in the country,” he stressed.
While enumerating the achievements of the police since his appointment, IGP Egbetokun disclosed that men and officers of the Force have successful dismantled several notorious criminal syndicates involved in organized crimes such as armed banditry, insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping, gun running, cattle rustling etc.
This, according to him, led to the arrest of 986 armed robbery suspects, 377 kidnap suspects including bandits, 848 suspects of homicide, 297 suspects for possession of prohibited firearms, 517 suspects of rape, defilement and other sexual offences, 874 suspected cultists, and 5,281 suspects for various other offences.
“Similarly, a total of 520 firearms of various calibres including AK47 and other assault rifles, 4,043 assorted ammunition, and 264 stolen vehicles were recovered nationwide while a total of 363 kidnap victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families and loved ones.
“As part of our crime management tactics to address the trending crimes in the country, the Nigeria Police Force under my watch has commenced the process of invigorating the 3 Police Mobile Force (PMF) which remains our statutory striking arm.
“We have started the process of mobilizing 40,000 strong and willing Police personnel who are expected to be drawn from the existing Police Mobile Force Squadrons, State/Zonal Police Commands and other tactical Units of the Force.
“It is imperative for the Heads of these Commands and Formations to give maximum cooperation to the Mobilization Team.
“In the period under review, I flagged off the distribution of cheques to cover Insurance benefits to next-of-kins of officers who paid the supreme price and those who have suffered permanent deformities in the course of discharging their lawful duties,” the IGP further explained.
