Inspector
General ( IG ) of Police Ibrahim Idris yesterday castigated police
officers for being careless to the extent that they are kidnapped.
He
described as embarrassing and annoying the recent kidnap of the
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sarkin Pawa in Niger State.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Amos Aliyu was on Sunday abducted near his home at Turin Fulani by unidentified persons.
Speaking
yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Police and
other senior officers, the IG urged policemen to be careful and protect
themselves first.
Idris told Commissioners of Police that they would be vicariously liable should anything happen to any policeman under them.
He
said: “There should be more visibility policing. Policemen should be
deployed in flashpoint areas to take care of security because the
presence of police in those areas would help in the reduction of crime.
“We
must take the protection of our officers seriously. We have a problem;
two days ago, one of our DPOs was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you
have all the policemen under your Command and then you start driving as
if you don’t have anybody.
“You
allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and your orderly, it is very
embarrassing. We had the same issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going
on leave travelled alone. It is embarrassing.
“Utilize
the men you have and you must protect yourself first. You can only
protect others when you are protected because you are a target.
“The
information we are receiving is that our ACP’s vehicle was abandoned in
a bush and he has not been seen which obviously means that he has been
kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation? It is becoming an
embarrassment. DPOs and other personnel should be careful of their
movement.
The
police chief added: “The CP Niger said there is contact already and
they are working on it. Policemen who are protecting others should not
allow themselves to be target. We should be careful in our movement.
“Our
officers have to be concerned about their personal safety first because
this issue is becoming an embarrassment. CPs would also be vicariously
liable for any policeman that is just picked up like a fowl or anything,
it is very annoying.
“We
should be careful in our movement. If you notice that an area is not
safe, you should deploy men in those areas. We should take their
protection very serious. Our policemen should also be careful with the
way they move around”.
On
the recent law on kidnapping, Idris said: “The Nigeria Police Force is
very glad with the law on kidnapping. With the law which is a death
sentence for those that would be tried for kidnapping, the spate of
kidnapping in Nigeria will be reduced”.
On
the Anambra State governor’s election next month, the IG said
additional policemen would be deployed to join the 17 units already on
ground.
The IG explained that the massive deployment would ensure a credible election in November 18.
He said: “The major challenges we are having now are the elections we would be having in Anambra state and two other states.
“The
deployment will involve all commands. We are going to send directives
to all CPs for the mobilisation of officers who are the Special Unit and
the Conventional police for the election.
“When
you receive the directive, act on them promptly because it is going to
be a massive deployment. We don’t have time to delay in our planning and
deployment because the election date is too close. It is important for
us to prepare so that we can provide personnel and logistics in order
for the officers to perform creditably.
“It
is unfortunate that before this election, we had some minor problems
especially in the southeast but I believe the challenges have been
addressed because we deployed 17 units there and with the additional
deployment requested, we are going to take care of security in that
location.”
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