Kaduna-Abuja Crises: Police Arrest 496 Suspects- IGP Idris

Police Arrest 496 Suspects from Kaduna, Abuja Crises- IGP Idris
An Opening remark of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris at IGP’s Conference Room withtop police officers in Abuja

First and foremost, I wish to appreciate and commend police personnel for the hardwork in ensuring adequate security and safety of all Nigerians in various jurisdictions, nationwide. There is no doubt that the current security situation requires more efforts, commitment and dedication to sustain the level of peace and tranquillity that has been achieved by the Nigeria Police Force throughout the length and breadth of this country. I hereby call on you to be steadfast and more committed to the protection of lives and property, preservation of law and order, prevention and detection of crimes and criminality throughout the Country.

The recent crisis in Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory have been brought under control and normalcy restored, we must fine-tune and strengthen our strategies proactively to prevent such occurrences anywhere in the Country.

Ninety Six (96) suspects arrested by the Police for their active involvement in the crisis that occurred in Kaduna State leading to loss of innocent lives and destruction of public and private properties are being prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others while in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), over Four Hundred (400) members of the El-Zazakky Group Islamic Movement in Nigeria arrested for causing disturbance of public peace and setting ablaze of a Police patrol vehicle, with Thirty One (31) bottles of petrol bombs and illicit drugs recovered from them are also being prosecuted for acts and offences prohibited under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013. More patrol vehicles and Police personnel and equipment have been deployed to support the Kaduna and FCT Police Commands to sustain the peace and normalcy that have been restored.

In Kaduna State, I have sent the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Headquarters, AIG Taiwo Lakanu to lead the intervention Force from the Force Headquarters and remain in Kaduna State to implement the new security arrangement and strategies to bring lasting and sustainable peace to Kaduna State and environs.

The political party primaries of all the Political parties have been held across the Country and the Police ensured peace and safety throughout the period. I therefore implore you to sustain the same level of performance in the upcoming 2019 General Election.

The Government and the People expect much from us in ensuring security and safety of all Nigerians throughout the Country as we go into the 2019 General Election, the Force will no longer tolerate laxity on the part any Commissioner of police who fails to be proactive in dealing with crisis and other violent crimes in their Area of Responsibilities (AOR). We have to up our games of ensuring adequate security throughout the Country from now on to the election and beyond.

I have set up a Committee headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations comprising the United Nations Organs, the ECOWAS and the Presidential Committee on Prohibition of Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) and other critical stakeholders for the destruction before the 2019 General Election of over Ten Thousand (10,000) illegal firearms and prohibited weapons and more than Twenty Six Thousand (26,000) illegal ammunition recovered in the mop-up operations of illegal firearms and prohibited weapons currently ongoing throughout the Country.

While I congratulate and commend the newly promoted Deputy Inspectors General of Police and Assistant Inspectors General of Police decorated today, I enjoin them to put in their best in their new dispositions.

The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force in reducing crimes and criminalities in the Country to the barest remains unwavering.

Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police