The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday ordered 24 hours surveillance on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs to forestall break down of law and order.
A statement by DCP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) in Abuja said the I-G gave the order following a violent protest by members of the El-Zakzakky Group in Abuja.
Adamu said the protest by the group at the National Assembly led to assault and injury to Police personnel on lawful duty as well as willful damage to public properties.
“The Commissioners of Police and their supervisory Assistant Inspectors General of Police in States contiguous to the FCT are also placed on the alert to ensure maximum security.
“While noting that the force is not against citizens expressing their grouse against the state, the I-G stressed that such ventilations must be done through legitimate and acceptable processes.
“The I-G, therefore, warned that citizens should not test the collective will of the people and the state by engaging in lawless acts likely to cause the breach of the peace,” he said.
Adamu had ordered a speedy and diligent investigation into the incident as well as prompt prosecution of all the persons arrested in connection with the incident.
The I-G expressed displeasure over the attack and injury inflicted on nine Police Officers by members of the El-Zakzakky Group.
He commended the restraint, maturity and professionalism displayed by police personnel in containing the protest.
He, therefore, directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Police Medical Department to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured officers.
Tag: IG
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IG orders 24 hours surveillance on FCT, environs
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IG orders investigation of Sen. Abbo over alleged assault
The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on a female Nigerian by Sen. Elisha Abbo.
A statement by DCP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, on Wednesday in Abuja said the I-G had directed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police to provide a “personal and round-the-clock supervision” of the investigation.
Mba said that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, had established contact with the victim of the assault and commenced investigation in earnest into the case.
He said the investigation would include the forensic analysis of the video currently in circulation as well as the actions/inactions of the policeman seen in the video footage.
According to him, the I-G assures citizens of utmost professionalism by the Police in handling the matter.
“The police boss has promised that the force will ensure that justice is manifestly done,” he said.
Mba said the I-G commended Nigerians for their massive show of empathy and concern for the rights of their fellow citizen.
He called for continuous citizens’ engagement in the fight against the wider security challenges confronting the country. -
IG seeks tougher legislation against kidnapping, banditry
The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday called for tougher laws against the crimes of kidnapping, armed banditry and state seizure of assets linked to illicit proceeds from kidnapping and other heinous crimes.
The IG said such laws would stem crimes and criminalities and act as a deterrent to potential kidnappers and other dangerous criminals.
This call is coming as he said the Police arrested 2,175 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and cultism and recovered 834 arms and 19, 009 live ammunition, as well as two rocket launchers since the launch of ‘Operation Puff Adder,’ designed to tackle kidnapping and armed banditry.
The IG made the call while addressing a delegation of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State Chapter, led by Alhaji Aminu Muazu Maifata, who paid him the traditional Sallah visit in his official quarters in Abuja.
He noted that the call had become necessary against the increasingly daring resort to these forms of crimes by criminal elements in the society.
The IG said the police had recorded successes in the ongoing fight against criminal elements across the country, noting that since the launch of Operation Puff Adder on April 5, 2019, till date, a total 63 kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt by police operatives.
In the same vein, 2,175 suspects were arrested for the following offences notably kidnapping, 852; armed robbery, 865; murder, 359; and Cultism, 99.
With respect to arms recovery, the IG noted that 834 arms, including two rocket launchers, and 19,009 live ammunition were recovered with Oyo State recording the highest number of 9,500 live ammunition .
The IG stated that the Police were rejigging strategies to ensure proactive interception of illicit weapons destined to the country and at the same time mop up un- authorised weapons in circulation.
According to the IG, “while a good number of the cases are already being prosecuted in courts across the country, many of the cases are still under active investigation owing largely to the complexity of investigating and managing organised crimes”.
While commending his men for a good job, the IG stated that the mind-boggling size of the arrests and arms recovered so far was a testament to the efficacy of Operation Puff Adder and more importantly to the unalloyed and unwavering support of the public to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, a statement by Force PRO, Frank Mba, said.
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Halt implementation of operation ‘Puff Adder’ in Ebonyi, Umahi tells IG
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (I-G) Mohammed Adamu to suspend the implementation of operation ‘Puff Adder’ security exercise in the state.
Umahi made the appeal on Tuesday when the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 6, Musa Kimo paid him a courtesy call.
The governor noted that the warring communities in Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA) were peaceful presently.
According to him, the government will inform the police authorities whether the exercise was still needed in the state and appealed for one week to determine such.
“I asked both communities to give me a summation on how permanent peace will be restored and I can guarantee that there would be permanent peace in the communities.
“I urged leaders of both communities to call their warring youths to order and when this is not done, we would collectively execute the operation.
“We will shock the places by using police, army and other security apparatus to ensure the safety of defenceless young people and women in the communities,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the I-G to suspend the implementation of the operation in the state as he had warned both communities’ leaders of the impending use of force to ensure peace in the areas.
“They have done what I asked them to do and the state commissioner of police can testify that there has been no single gunshot in those communities since.
“However, I thank the I-G for his quick response to the issue as the leaders have the capacity to tame the excesses of their armed youths though they are protecting the communities from external aggression.
“Help us tell the Cross River Governor to suspend the political office holders from their own side of the conflict as I have done, to make them work assiduously towards lasting peace,” he said.
Kimo in his response thanked the governor for the reception and pledged to ensure absolute peace in all communities of Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; states under his watch.
“I have heard from the governor and will relay the message to the I-G as the governor is the chief security officer of the state.
“I appreciate and commend him for his stern position towards security issues as he has always and is still working with us to ensure security.
“We would, however, continue doing our best in a professional manner and our intention is to use the Puff Adder operation to declare criminals – persona non grata in the state,” he said.
The police chief noted that some arrests have been made by the police in connection to the killing of a Fulani indigene in Izzi LGA and the killing and burning of five members of a family in the crisis between Enyibichiri community of Ikwo and Enyigba community of Abakaliki LGA.
The News Agency of Nigeia (NAN) reports that leaders of the warring communities signed a peace accord before the governor as the government revoked the disputed land and shared it among them. (NAN)
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Withdraw anti-riot policemen from Jigawa villages, Reps order IG
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, called on the acting Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, to withdraw the contingent of anti-riot policemen from Gagarawa farmlands and some villages in Jigawa.
This followed a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Rep Muhammed Zoro at plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in Abuja.
Zoro, who represents Gumei/Gagarawa/Mai Gatari/Sule/Tankarkar Federal Constituency, said the call became necessary in order to forestall unnecessary killings or maiming of innocent lives and destruction of property.
According to him, this will also put a stop to the harassment and intimidation of my constituents.
“The house is concerned by the renewed harassment, intimidation and detention of helpless peasant farmers by a contingent of gun-wielding, anti-riot (mobile) policemen deployed to Gayawar Malam, Garin Chiroma, Kore Sabuwa, Dan Nani and other villages and farmlands at the behest of a Chinese company- Northern Agri-Business ltd.
“The house is aware that the act of massive land-grabbing under the guise of developmental projects has been a principal source of internal displacement everywhere.
“This is prohibited by both the United Nations Guiding Principles Against Displacement and the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention) both of which Nigeria is signatory to.
“The house is conscious of the fact that no Nigerian will be allowed to dispossess Chinese of their own land in China.
“Therefore, as a patriotic Nigerian citizen and a legislator, it is part of my constitutional responsibilities to defend the interest of my country and its people even at the expense of threats to my life,” he said.
According to him, the Lee Group of Companies of which Northern Agri-Business Ltd., is a member has so far grabbed no less than 100, 000 hectares of farmlands in its predatory activities in Jigawa alone and most of which has only been fenced in the last 8 years without utilisation by Nigerians or the Chinese invaders.
Zoro alleged that the Chinese company might have disposed Nigerians of an estimated 500, 000 hectares worth of farmlands according to private investigations into its unacceptable activities in Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi and Niger states.
“The house is aggrieved that the affected peasant farmers have not been given suitable and alternative farmlands, or were forced to receive paltry compensation as low as N3, 000, or swindled by local collaborators and state authorities,” he said.
When the Speaker, put the motion on voice vote, the members unanimously supported it.
The house, therefore, urged the I-G to render the police report which investigated complaints of bribery and corruption associated with the compensation exercise earlier conducted by state and local authorities.
It also invited the Board and Management of Lee Group to appear before the ad hoc committee of the house in order to unravel the truth about the matter.
The house called on the ICPC and the EFCC to investigate the allegations of massive bribery, corruption and money laundering leveled against local, state and federal collaborators in the case.
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Kidnapping: IG orders downsizing of Police headquarters, others for efficiency
To inject fresh ideas for administrative efficiency, policemen who have spent four years and above at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Zonal or state commands are to be posted out on the approval of the acting Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu.
Adamu has also directed a downsize of personnel strength in the aforementioned places for operational exigencies.
The IGP’s directive according to sources may not be unconnected with the desire to contain the practice whereby officers and order ranks perpetuate themselves at the various command headquarters to escape deployment to crisis zones.
It was gathered that the IG was also concerned by the spate of violent crimes across the country and the seeming inability of the police to take charge.
The IG according to close sources was unsatisfied with the level of manpower redundancy and was going all out to enhance the personnel base of state commands for improved crime control capacity.
A source who hinted on the development disclosed that it was contained in a signal signed by the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the IG Idowu Owohunwa, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
The source said: ” The IG has approved the downsizing of the personnel profile of the Force Headquarters, Zonal Headquarters and State Command Headquarters with immediate effect.
The downsizing will affect officers at the Force Headquarters Abuja and Lagos Annex. Some officers have served so many years at these places and they keep working their postings to stay there.“The directive mandated all departments within the Force Headquarters Abuja and Zonal and State headquarters to start reducing their personnel strength by at least 30 percent. It is for both officers and rank and file. It gave one-week deadline for the list (comprehensive nominal roll of personnel by department) to reach the IG secretariat.
“That those who have stayed more than four years must be redeployed from the headquarters as well as those adjudged to be lacking in capacity to contribute meaningfully to the mandates of the departments.
“All those to be deployed from the Force Headquarters will be posted to state commands across the country to boost manpower.”
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IG threatens to sanction non performing Commissioners of Police
The acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu has threatened to sanction Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands over dereliction of duty.
Adamu gave the warning at a meeting with officers on the rank of commissioner and above on Thursday in Abuja.
“I charge you all as you return to your various commands to renew your sense of commitment to duty and demonstrate requisite professional leadership needed to roll back the trend of crimes in your commands,” he said.
He enjoined them to evolve new strategies and approaches to crime management.
“You must learn to harness the strength within to neutralize all forms of crimes and security threats.
“The only way we can stay ahead of criminals is to continually generate actionable criminal intelligence to support our ant-crime functions,” he said.
The police boss said that the only way to achieve this was to cultivate partnership and confidence by returning policing to the people.
He said that while some of the commissioners have done well in their commands, some have not.
Adamu said that the current security challenges in the country had made nonperformance unacceptable to the force.
He said the leadership of the force would strive to support and motivate them to effectively discharge their duty.
The police boss said that with the current security challenges in the country, it was the duty of personnel of the force to rededicate themselves to their constitutional mandate.
“The threats appear challenging but I can assure you that they are surmountable and we shall provide the requisite leadership needed to address them,” he said.
“We, however, cannot do it alone. We seek the citizens’ supports and we trust that you shall all partner with us to present a common front in the war against criminals,” he said.
Adamu said that ‘Operation Puff Adder ” was conceptualise to further complement the functions of the commissioners at the commands.
He said that the initiative, which was launched on April 5, was yielding results with the arrest of 46 suspects, rescuing of two victims and killing of 10 suspects.
Others are: 1,300 AK 47 live ammunition, 10 extra rifle magazines, 28 live cartridges, recovery of 18 Ak 47 rifles and nine locally made fabricated weapons.
He alleged that some traditional rulers in Zamfara were also involved the mining business that had contributed to the security problems in the state.
He said that the meeting would review the progress so far made by the initiative in response to the resurgence of kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and other heinous crimes.
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Rededicate selves to service, IG charges newly promoted officers
The acting Inspector-General of Police ( I-G ), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has charged the newly promoted officers to rededicate themselves to serving the country and to continue to uphold the fundamental rights of Nigerians.
The Police Service Commission ( PSC) had on March 31, approved the promotion of 8,916 senior police officers to their next substantive ranks.
A statement by the Deputy Force spokesman, Aremu Adeniran, a Chief Superintendent of Police on Thursday in Abuja, said that the I-G gave the charge while decorating the force spokesman , DCP Frank Mba, with his new rank.
Adeniran said that other officers decorated with their new ranks were ACP Igbafe Afegbai, second in command, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and SP Atiku Ibrahim, Personal Assistant (P.A) to the I-G.
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Police IG orders speedy cargo clearance at ports
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.”
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IG bans use of unmarked, covered vehicle number plates
The acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate ban on unauthorised use of unmarked and covered vehicle number plates across the country.
The ban was issued through a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Mr Frank Mba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adamu gave the order following intelligence report that covered number plates might be used to commit electoral related offences before, during and after the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections slated for Saturday.
He warned that covering of vehicle number plates was a clear breach of road traffic Act and others laws of the land.
The police boss said that such practices could also impact negatively on national security and heighten criminal activities.
Adamu directed all Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zonal and state commands to strictly enforce the order.
He warned further that any security personnel found escorting their principals with an unmarked vehicle or covered vehicle number plates, would be arrested and dealt with accordingly.