Tag: IG

  • Osinbajo confers with I-G, others on SARS

    Osinbajo confers with I-G, others on SARS

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has met with the Inspector-General of Police(I-G), Mohammed Adamu, Director-General, Department of State Services(DSS), Yusuf Bichi and Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Tony Ojukwu.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement in Abuja said that the meeting was held on Friday, to determine the next steps toward addressing concerns of Nigerians on the excesses of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “The Vice President and I-G later briefed President Muhammadu Buhari who gave further directives to the I-G on the matter,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Buhari has directed the I-G to ensure that personnel of the force remained fully accountable to the people.

    The President’s directive was made public in series of tweets on Friday night.

    Buhari also affirmed the people’s right to public protest and appealed for calm.

    Osinbajo had on Oct. 4, met with the I-G at his residence over the activities of SARS and other police tactical units.

    The Vice President had told State House correspondents that he was angry that young people were harassed; sometimes maimed and killed by policemen.

    He said such actions perpetrated by those saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the citizens were unacceptable.

  • Nothing must happen to my husband, Wife of detained Bayelsa guber candidate tells IG

    Nothing must happen to my husband, Wife of detained Bayelsa guber candidate tells IG

    Ebikaboere, the wife of detained Bayelsa State Governorship Candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the last election, Vijah Opuama, has expressed concerns over the safety of her husband.

    Opuama was arrested on 15th August 2020 at the premises of the Bayelsa State Governorship Tribunal sitting in Abuja during the judgment on the case he filed seeking the disqualification of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewrujakpor.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja earlier ordered the Inspector-General of Police to bring Opuama to court on September 2 but was surprised that the police failed to heed the order.

    The court presided over by Justice Taiwo, renewed the order, and gave the IG the last chance to unfailingly produce Vijah on September 7.

    But Ebikaboere said she became scared of her husband’s life on Friday when armed policemen took him away from his cell under the guise of taking her to the IG’s office.

    She said since 12noon on Friday when he was taken away on handcuffs till Saturday, the whereabouts of Opuama had remained unknown.

    She urged the IG not to let any harm come to her husband insisting that Opuama was not a criminal and should not be treated as one.

    She said: “On Friday afternoon, the police came and took Vijah Opuama out of the station on the pretence that IGP wanted to speak with him at Force Headquarters.

    “They handcuffed him and went out with him. We have made all efforts to find out where they took Vijah all to no avail. He is not in Force Headquarters and has not been returned to the Police station up to now.

    “The purported Area Court Zuba the police claimed he was taken to sat that day between 9 am to 11 am and heard only three cases which did not include that of Vijah. Incidentally, one of Vijah’s Lawyer was also in that area court throughout Friday and saw all the cases that were heard and there was no case like that of Vijah that was mentioned. Where is Vijah?

    “The Federal High Court has already ordered the IGP to produce the Vijah in Court on Monday. We are apprehensive that they have taken Vijah out of the station to go and harm him. I am scared of his life. Where is my husband?

    ” I am begging the IG under whose custody, my husband is being detained not to let anything harm come the way of my husband. He has done nothing wrong apart from fighting for justice in Bayelsa.”

  • Insecurity: FG’s move to push Amotekun under IG’s supervision is arrant nonsense – Adebanjo

    Insecurity: FG’s move to push Amotekun under IG’s supervision is arrant nonsense – Adebanjo

    Elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on Tuesday attacked the presidency for saying that the Inspector General of Police would determine the structure of Southwest regional security outfit, Amotekun.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had said during a programme on Channels TV that the IGP would determine the structure of Amotekun.

    Shehu was speaking on the approval of N13bn by the Federal Government for community policing across the 36 states of the federation.

    He said, “Whatever name they go by, Amotekun or whatever, will be streamlined and they will be run in accordance with the structure as defined by the Inspector-General of Police. They will be localised, they will be owned by local communities, they will be managed by them.”

    The President’s spokesman further stated that the community policing structure would be the same across the 36 states and whatever does not conform with the national structure would not be “in the scheme of things”.

    But Adebanjo, in an interview rejected the presidency’s assertion, saying that they are ‘arrant nonsense.’

    According to him, “What Shehu said is arrant nonsense! Is he the Attorney General (of the federation)? He is just talking trash. Please quote me.

    “They are controlling the police from the centre, it is not working, now they want to control Amotekun again from the same position? Do you have an IG of police in America? Even in Britain, it is not centralized. What you have is metropolitan police.”

    Adebanjo wondered: “How can you send someone from Jigawa State to control the police in Ibadan? What does he know? You say the Governors are the chief security officers of their states, yet they control nothing, what kind of arrangement is that?”

    He said Shehu might not understand as the issue was beyond him.

    He added: “I don’t want to engage him because he may not understand. The issue is beyond him. Amotekun is the case of localizing security, yet they want to control it from the Centre like the police, how?”

  • IG denies suspending entry requirements for Police recruitment screening

    IG denies suspending entry requirements for Police recruitment screening

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu has denounced reports that he ordered suspension of entry requirement for candidates who applied to join the Nigeria Police Force as Police constables in the ongoing recruitment screening exercise.

    Adamu said the statutory entry requirements into the Nigeria Police Force remained sacrosanct and would be thoroughly followed in the ongoing Police recruitment screening exercise.

    The IGP, in a statement issued by DCP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, said the need to reassure Nigerians became necessary following news report making the rounds in some sections of the media that he had suspended the entry requirement for candidates who applied to join the Nigeria Police Force as Police constables.

    The IGP, while noting that that no one has the powers to alter the conditions for recruitment into the Force – these, having been clearly provided for in Sections 71 – 75 and other relevant sections of the Police Act and Regulations- stated that all candidates who successfully completed the online recruitment registration exercise were invited for physical and credential screening from 24th August, 2020 to 6th September, 2020 at various venues in States across the Federation and the FCT.

    “The screening Officers have been directed to allow all the applicants to participate in the exercise and to recommend their suitability or otherwise in the spirit of transparency, accountability and fair hearing using the already established benchmarks as contained in the Act,” he said.

    The IGP commended the Screening Officers for the hitch-free take-off of the screening exercise at various locations nationwide, while calling on them to uphold high level of professionalism and observe necessary caution in line with the COVID-19 prevention regulations throughout the period of the exercise.

    Meanwhile, the statement said as part of conscious efforts to deepen the integrity of the recruitment process, observers and monitors from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission and the Federal Character Commission have been invited to provide oversights toward ensuring a credible exercise.

  • Luxury bus owners petition IG over purported extortion, harassment

    Luxury bus owners petition IG over purported extortion, harassment

    Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) has raised alarm over alleged extortions and harassment of its members by security agents at checkpoints across the country.

     

    The group accused the security agents of extorting between N2,000 and N10,0000 from their members despite their compliance with COVID-19 protocols and decrease of number of passengers.

     

    In a petition to Inspector General of Police signed by the chairman, National Task Force of ALBON, Chief Joseph Ejiofor, the drivers called for the dismantling of roadblocks on the highways.

     

    The group said that its members have lost billions of naira to the pandemic for the four months they did not operate due to inter-state lockdown.

     

    The petition read in part, “Commercial vehicle road users observe the rule of social distancing by reducing the number of passengers boarding their vehicles such as Sienna from 7 to 5, Hummer bus from 15 to 9, Coaster bus from 33 to 20, luxury bus from 52 to 25, then 59 luxury bus to 30 and Salon car from 4 to 3 passengers.

     

    “The security agencies especially the police created additional obstacles at the roadblocks/checkpoints, the huge sum of money they are extorting from us are militating against the free movements of passengers, goods and services nationwide.

     

    “The security agencies collect N2,000, N5,000 and N10,000 per checkpoint depending on the type of vehicle. There are about 25 road checkpoints from Port Harcourt to Kano. They are frustrating our operation since re-opening of borders.”

     

    If any driver failed to pay, they would beat the driver up and park the vehicles for hours or even days until the driver complied and pay under compulsion.

     

     

     

    “The worst of it was the Benin-city/Okada axis of Lagos route where a driver who refused to pay was allegedly tie his legs and hands with rope inside his vehicle while his passengers were discharged and his bus impounded.

     

    “We are appealing to federal government for bailout for commercial vehicle road transportation companies. We are for the economic rejuvenation of the nation in the wake of COViD-19 pandemic.

     

    “We provide livelihood for millions of Nigerians and lift them out of extreme poverty. We are the wheel upon which the economic progress of the nation move. We need your utmost support.”

     

     

  • BREAKING: Police IG rejects Magu’s bail request, sends him to panel

    BREAKING: Police IG rejects Magu’s bail request, sends him to panel

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has asked Tosin Ojaomo, the counsel for the embattled former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, to direct the request for his client’s bail to the Presidential panel investigating his activities in office.

    The IG said the police were not investigating Magu and is accordingly, not being detained by the force but by the panel headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

    Adamu said this in a letter dated July 14, 2020, in response to the bail application filed by Ojaomo for the release of his client who had been in police custody since July 6.

    The letter with reference CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.489/171 titled, ‘RE: Application for bail,’ was signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa.

    It read, “Your letter OOC/TOL/89A/07/2020 of July 10th, 2020 on the above-underlined subject, refers.

    “The Inspector-General of Police directs that your attention be drawn to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force is not investigating CP Ibrahim Magu (your client) and he is accordingly, not being detained by the police but by the Presidential Panel that is investigating the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    “The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, advises that you consider redirecting your request to the Chairman of the Presidential panel for appropriate attention.”

  • IG unveils operational guidelines for COVID-19 prevention enforcement

    IG unveils operational guidelines for COVID-19 prevention enforcement

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, on Monday, unveiled new operational guidelines for Police and other law enforcement agencies on COVID-19 prevention enforcement duties.

    Adamu said in Abuja that the guidelines were part of measures by the Police to foster a harmonious relationship between the force and the public.

    He said the guidelines would also deepen respect for the right of citizens and provide a new set of policing tools for tackling emerging crimes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the items contained in the operational guideline state: “officers on duty must ensure adequate self-protection by frequently washing their hands with soap, use of hand sanitisers, wearing of face mask and maintaining of social distancing.

    “Officers must also make efforts to understand the regulations and measures on COVID-19 issued by relevant authorities and their responsibilities in ensuring compliance”.

    The IGP, however, raised concern over the increasing reported cases of domestic violence like rape, child molestation, defilement, cybercrime and other gender-based violence (GBV) linked to COVID-19 restrictions.

    According to him, these unfortunate incidents have prompted the introduction of these operational guidelines, which will help to adequately coordinate and reshape the conducts of law enforcement personnel.

    He said the guidelines were for the force and other law enforcement agencies on the frontline of operations in the enforcement of the COVID-19 prevention orders.

    Adamu said it would also serve as a standard code of conduct for police officers on similar operations in the future.

    He had called for the strengthening of gender desk units (GDU and juvenile welfare centres (JWCs) across the country and the deployment of investigative assets to deal with gender-related offences.

    Adamu said the cybercrime unit of the force had also been strengthened to deal with COVID-19 pandemic related cybercrime.

    He directed Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police in zonal and state commands as well as Heads of Police Departments/Formations to make the guidelines, subject of departmental briefings and lectures.

    IGP urged the Force Provost Department, the X-Squad, the Force Public Relations Department, the Complaint Response Unit and the Public Complaint Bureau to carry out their oversight roles of adequate evaluation and monitoring.

    Adamu said the idea was to ensure compliance with the guidelines and bring erring personnel to book.

    He enjoined citizens to cooperate with the Police and other law enforcement officers, adding that all hands must be on deck to curtail and contain the virus in the country.

  • BREAKING: Police IG places his men on red alert over death of Iranian General

    BREAKING: Police IG places his men on red alert over death of Iranian General

     

    Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of police, has placed policemen on “red alert” nationwide over the killing of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general.

    President Donald Trump had ordered the killing of Soleimani whom he accused of planning an imminent attack on Americans.

    The death of the general sparked tension across the world. In Nigeria, some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) hit the streets over the incident.

    On Sunday, Adamu asked his men across command and formations all over the country to prevent break down of law and order in the country by those protesting the killing of Soleimani.

  • I-G  vows to extend police anti-cultism campaign to 36 states, FCT

    I-G vows to extend police anti-cultism campaign to 36 states, FCT

    Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, has assured that the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) will cover all the 36 states and the FCT.

    Adamu gave the assurance on Wednesday in a statement released by the National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu, in Enugu.

    According to the statement, Adamu while meeting with the POCACOV team in Abuja, said that his administration would take appropriate measures at ensuring that the campaign succeeds.

    “I must commend the National Coordinator of POCACOV, SP Ebere Amaraizu and his team over the successful national flag-off of the campaign which took place in Enugu on August 29.

    “As well, overwhelming reach out they have done to seek support and partnership for the campaign so far,’’ the statement quoted the I-G as saying.

    Amaraizu had in response thanked the police boss for giving the team the opportunity to serve and transform the life-style and views of misguided Nigerian youths, the statement said.

    “We are appreciative of the numerous support and commitment of the I-G to see that the campaign succeeds nationwide.’’

  • Man cries out to IG over wife’s killing at check point

    Man cries out to IG over wife’s killing at check point

    The husband of a 42-year-old mother of four, Mrs Grace Dabo, allegedly killed at Ovwian-Aladja in Delta on Saturday has cried out to the Inspector-General of Police to bring her killers to justice.
    Mr Benjamin Dabo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Tuesday that his wife was allegedly killed at a police check point at Ovwian Aladja.
    He claimed that his 10-year-old daughter informed him how policemen at the check point stopped her mother and demanded the vehicle’s particulars of her Sienna 1999 model.
    Dabo said that his daughter also informed him that his wife presented other papers of the vehicle but did not produce the factory fitted permit.
    The bereaved husband added that the daughter told him that the policemen dragged her mother out of the car, while one of the officers allegedly drove the vehicle away.
    He said that the girl added that her mother, while being dragged out, succeeded in removing her bag from the vehicle, and that she came down.
    Dabo said that his daughter told him that shortly after, the police patrol van also left the scene known to be notorious for criminal activities.
    “Left in the dark, a tricycle with two passengers came to the scene and we boarded.
    “On the way, the occupants robbed my mum and shot her before pushing us down. Then I started crying and calling for help,” he quoted his daughter as saying.
    He told NAN that his daughter said that another tricycle came and carried her mother to two hospitals where she was rejected as they claimed she was brought in dead.
    “She informed me that it was at the second hospital that the tricycle operator requested for my phone number from her and called.
    “After the briefing from my daughter, I took the corpse to the Ovwian Police Station, where I saw my wife’s vehicle parked and demanded to know what happened.
    “There and then I decided to leave the corpse at the station,’’ Dabo to NAN.
    “The killing of my wife at a check point of the police saddled with the responsibility of protecting life is unacceptable,’’ he said.
    Dabo, who described his late wife as his pillar, wondered how he would cope with four children as the father and mother.
    When contacted, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the woman was killed by suspected armed robbers.
    She said that the husband told the DPO that his wife was shot dead by suspected robbers while she was going home in a tricycle with her daughter on July 20, at 7.20p.m.
    “One Mrs Ughochukwu Grace Dabo was driving home in the company of her daughter, Oghenenyerhovwo, in her Toyota Sienna Space Bus Reg. No. AGL 822 EY.
    “She was intercepted by a police patrol team at Igbiki Junction, Ovwian-Aladja.
    “When she could not produce the vehicle documents on demand by the police, the vehicle was impounded and taken the police station for further investigation.
    “The woman was left at the scene, having refused to go along with the policemen to the station,” the spokesman said in a statement sent to NAN.
    She said that the deceased was robbed and shot dead by a three-man armed robbery gang operating with a tricycle, but her daughter escaped unhurt.
    “She was able to narrate how her mother was killed by men of the underworld who are yet to be arrested.
    “The commissioner of police regrets the unfortunate incident leading to the death of the deceased and commiserates with her family members,” she said.
    Onovwakpoyeya, however, said that the command would investigate the role played by the policemen in the incident.
    She gave the assurance that justice would be done.