By Sadiq Umar, Abuja.
Twenty seven police officers who went missing after Boko Haram insurgents took control of Gwoza in Borno State in August, 2014, may soon be declared missing.
The officers disappeared 10 months ago after their base was invaded by the terrorist group.
Though, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase said Tuesday that there are chances that they are not dead, he said they would be officially declared missing or dead when the time comes.
“About our colleagues, who are missing in Gwoza, there is a tradition in the police force,” Arase told journalists at the commissioning of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Police Property Development and Construction Company Ltd in Abuja..
Adding, “When officers are missing in battle, we do not declare them dead or missing until after a period has lapsed.
“So, we are still waiting for that period to lapse, and if we cannot find them after that time, then, we will formally declare them either dead or missing,
Thirty five police officers were declared missing on August 20, 2014 after the insurgents attacked a police academy in Gwoza.
However, the Force PRO, Emmanuel Ojukwu, later told journalists that eight of them were later found, leaving 27 still missing.
The IG reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the inspectors, rank and file, who were mostly operational personnel, saying it is in doing so that corruption would be stamped out of the force.
“We have a social contract with our inspectors, rank and file,” Arase maintained.
He also announced that 36,000 personnel would by next week proceed on training that would lead to their promotion to the next rank.
The seven-man board is chaired by the Inspector-General of Police.
It would be recalled that the IG, on June 4, mandated the Police Works Department to build 6,000 units of modern houses for the rank and file personnel. Five hundred units of the houses are to be located in each of the 12 police zonal commands across the nation.
