•••SAYS ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION WITH US TERROR ALERT
•••WARNS AGAINST USE OF EBUBEAGU FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has said that the police has opened investigation into the attack of the convoy of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Baba told State House Correspondents on Thursday that the Police Spokesman in Borno,ASP Sani Shatambaya, might have reacted hastily in his assessment of the situation.
The IGP spoke at the 57 Session of the State House Ministerial Media Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the police leadership had taken a decision to constitute a team to ensure a holistic investigation of the Wednesday political violence in Borno State to prevent a reoccurrence.
The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Shatambaya, had told journalists shortly after the People’s Democratic Party raised the alarm about hoodlum’s attack on Atilu’s convoy , that the claim of attack was false.
He said, “The news of the attack on Atiku Abubakar’s convoy was not only fake but a false and mischievous attempt at confusing Nigerians.” he had said
The IGP warned politicians against political violence during campaigns insisting that they must all play by the rules,
The police boss was speaking on the recorded incidents of violence during political campaigns in Rivers, Kaduna and Borno States.
“On how realistic it is in stopping the issue of violence in our political agenda either in rallies or campaigns, well it takes two to tango. There are laid down means, ways procedures to do rallies and campaigns.
“On our part, we have gone out to appeal to politicians to play the game by the rules. And at the same time allow us to regulate political processions, campaigns and rallies, to avoid clashes and so forth.” He said
The IGP who also spoke on the reported abuse of People’s rights by the Eastern Region Security outfit, Ebubeagu, said that the police leadership has warned against the use of such outfits for political campaigns or activities.
“I think I have even made announcements earlier than even their letter. On the day of the signing of the peace accord, I observed that we have not less than 64 Security outfits that have been created by different state governors with names for different purposes.
“But most importantly, the crime prevention and space is so wide, that we are encouraging everybody to come in. And that is why we said policing is something that requires the contribution of everybody.
“So while these outfits have been created to checkmate crime and criminality, we have also told them that they are not to be used for politicking or to be used for political reasons.”
In his remarks on the tense security situation in Abuja, Baba said that the government did not dismiss the security advisory of the US to its citizens.
The IGP said that the police have arrested some persons who were planning to commit crime in the city and would take them to court at the appropriate time.
He said: “Nobody has dismissed it as just an alarm. Government has never dismissed it as alarm but we only said it was blown or made in such a way that our people became apprehensive to the situation or to the way it was done.
“The embassies have their own responsibilities to their citizens and they can make their advice and the government has not dismissed what has happened because they have also informed us of what they foresee as threats.
“And we on our parts have also looked at what they put as threat as something that has been with us and efforts are being made daily to see that those threats are mitigated or prevented from happening and that is what has been happening in Abuja and all over the country.
“Sometimes, these threats or things happen but nobody has dismissed it as mere alarm and a lot of efforts have been made, like you said to douse tension.
“Yes, actually arrest have been made for those, we believe are planning to commit crime in whatever form and we have done that arrest and as at when due, those arrested will be charged to court by any of the services that have them.”
The IGP disclosed that some aspects of police duties have been commercialized for the purpose of fund generation through the Police Specialized Automated Services (POSSAB) portal which has been abused.
He said that he opposed the idea of total withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs in order not to expose them to attacks by criminal elements.
“On the issue of security personnel being attached to VIPs to be withdrawn, for every rule there are exemptions. These people need to be protected but we try to do it with all sense of humility.
“VIPs need to be protected because some people are, really, if left unattended to can be easy targets and we will make too much noise.
“So we’re not withdrawing personnel, or I am not of the view of completely withdrawing security aides from VIPs. But that we will manage what we have and also checkmate crime and criminality without actually leaving them bare.”
The police boss acknowledged that some aspects of police duties have been commercialized to generate more revenue through the Police Specialized Automated Services (POSSAB) portal but the service has been abused.
He, however, threw out the idea that unscrupulous persons can use the portal to gain protection from the police.
The IGP said he was against the withdrawal from security personnel being attached to VIPs, saying some of them might be exposed to dangers
He said: “On the issue of security personnel being attached to VIPs to be withdrawn. For every rule there are exemptions, these people need to be protected but we try to do it with all sense of humility. VIPs need to be protected because some people are really, if left unattended to can be easy target and we will make too much noise.
“So we’re not withdrawing personnel, or I am not of the view of completely withdrawing security aides from VIPs. But that we will manage what we have and also checkmate crime and criminality without actually leaving them bare.”
On the security situation in Abuja, the IGP said the federal government did not dismiss the alarm raised by the US government asking their citizens to leave the country.
He said: “Nobody has dismissed it as just an alarm. Government has never dismissed it as alarm but we only said it was blown or made in such a way that our people became apprehensive to the situation or to the way it was done.
“The embassies have their own responsibilities to their citizens and they can make their advice and the government has not dismissed what has happened because they have also informed us of what they foresee as threats.
“And we on our parts have also looked at what they put as threat as something that has been with us and efforts are being made daily to see that those threats are mitigated or prevented from happening and that is what has been happening in Abuja and all over the country.
“Sometimes, these threats or things happen but nobody has dismissed it as mere alarm and a lot of efforts have been made, like you said to douse tension.
“Yes, actually arrest have been made for those, we believe are planning to commit crime in whatever form and we have done that arrest and as at when due, those arrested will be charged to court by any of the services that have them.”
