NEWS

June 12: IGP reads riot act to Zonal AIGs, command CPs

By Racheal Ayodele 143 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – As June 12 commemoration of Democracy Day approaches, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has directed  Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police in states and FCT to deal firmly with any person or group who may want to take advantage of the event to threaten internal security order.

The IGP in a statement during a meeting with strategic commanders of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja, urged them to remain civil with law abiding citizens during the Democracy Day celebration.

“June 12 Democracy Day is days away. We are currently reviewing the security situation, with a view to ensuring a hitch-free exercise. 

‘’Details of this will form part of our discussion. I must, however, remind you all of the need to remain civil with law abiding citizens, but firm with any person or group that may wish to take advantage of the event to threaten our internal security order”, he said.

Expressing dismay that most Command Commissioners of Police ‘still allow their officers to unnecessarily impound vehicles at police stations, the IGP said:  “Police facilities are not junk yards and must not be turned to one. Indeed, such acts create vulnerabilities which often engender attacks on our facilities.

”Accordingly, I task you to return to your commands and undertake a major operation to clear all such indiscriminately impounded vehicles off your stations.

‘’The compliance to this directive shall be confirmed in the course of my on-going tours to your command and any departmental head, zonal commander, commissioner of police or unit head that is found wanting will be dealt with.

“I have also received reports of abuses associated with the use of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses. Accordingly, henceforth the issuance of SPY plate numbers and tainted glasses permits are hereby suspended. 

‘’The existing authorizations are being reviewed and a protocol to regulate the issuance of such permits will be evolved.

“An emerging trend in which some motorists cover their plate numbers has also been noticed across the country. This practice inhibits our law enforcement operations and hence, is intolerable. Consequently, commissioners of Police are tasked to as part of their operations, to arrest any motorist involved in this act.

“Furthermore, I have been receiving reports that some Commissioners of Police are still allowing the mounting of road blocks in their jurisdictions. For the avoidance of doubt, road blocks under any description or guise remain banned across the country and any officer found to be contravening this order will be held liable and dealt with firmly.

“The society has evolved. As law enforcement operatives, we must align our policing strategies to this societal dynamics, particularly, at this time that our policing functions are being built in the community policing model in which the citizen’s interests are prioritized”, he noted.

Baba added that road blocks as a policing model is becoming obsolete and unacceptable, hence we are working towards enhancing our intelligence-led and technology-driven policing capability as well as strengthening the ‘Safer Highway Motorized Patrol Scheme as an alternative to road blocks, Vanguard reported..

Therefore you are tasked to ensure that deployments within your command are reviewed and your operations aligned to this new policing approach which discourages the disposition to limiting the liberty of the citizens through road blocks which are known to be avenues for corrupt tendencies and other vices that widens the trust gap between the citizens and the police, Baba stated.

NEWS

IGP Announces Immediate Suspension Of Tinted Vehicle Windscreens

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 138 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including commissioners and DIGs from across the states.

He also directed that the issuance of spy number plates be put on hold.

This according to the Minister are parts of efforts being put in place to curtail the worsening security challenges across the country.

While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

The IGP also spoke concerning the arrest of high-profile criminals.

According to him, some of the high-profile suspects in police custody include members of IPOB, kidnappers, and bandits who have confessed to committing some of the most heinous crimes in recent times.

He stressed the need for the senior police officers to ensure discipline in their various commands.

Some of the successes recorded by the Police Force in the last two months include the arrest of over 600 suspects including persons believed to have carried out an attack on Governor Samuel Ortom earlier in March, this year.

The IGP’s meeting is the first of such he was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police.

The Police Council last week confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), almost two months after he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Channels reported.

Tinted Glass Law

General Ibrahim Babangida in February 1991 promulgated a decree prohibiting the tinting and use of cars with tinted glasses.

This according to him is to protect society from insecurity.

The decree is now known as the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991; made up of only six (6) sections.

NEWS

Police Council confirms Baba as IGP

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 110 0

MEWSMAN, Abuja – Police Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, has confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, who disclosed this to State House Correspondents after the meeting, said Baba was unanimously confirmed.

Recall that President Buhari had on April 6, appointed Alkali Usman Baba as the acting Inspector General of Police.

The minister said Buhari directed the IGP to ensure insecurity in the country is brought to the barest minimum.

Baba was a Deputy Inspector General of Police before his promotion.

NEWS

Court faults EFCC, IGP, others on ex-NEXIM Bank’s MD’s detention

By Racheal Ayodele 107 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – The arrest and detention of a Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), Orya Roberts Ungwaga for about15 days by the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been declared unlawful and a breach of his fundamental rights.

Justice M. A. Ikpambese of the High Court of Benue State in Makurdi made the declaration in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Ungwaga.

Respondents in the suit, marked: MHC/2393M/2020 are the EFCC, Inspector General of Police (IGP), the State Security Service (SSS), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and NEXIM Bank.

Justice Ikpambese also declared as unlawful the invasion and search of the applicant’s house by the law enforcement agencies without exhibiting valid search warrant or court order authorising them to so act.

In the judgment delivered on March 21 this year, sighted in Abuja on Monday, Justice Ikpambese dismissed the objections raised by the respondents.

He upheld the argument by lawyer to the applicant, M. S. Agaku, that the respondents’ continued detention of the applicant and their failure to charge him to court within a reasonable time as required by law, were unlawful.

The judge noted that “it is trite law that where the arrest and detention of a person are unlawful and unconstitutional any subsequent arraignment of that person before a court of law cannot and would not cure the illegality or unconstitutionality.

Justice Ikpambese found that the applicant was subjected to the unlawful treatments by the security agencies upon several petitions written to them by the bank in respect of a transaction involving a credit facility extended to a firm, Luxurium Leisure Services Limited.

He added: “The arrest and detention of the applicant by the first to fifth respondents is multiple and duplication of same set of facts, hence it is unlawful as there is no legal foundation to base the multiple arrest and detention.

“The applicant was not released unconditionally or on conditions, hence the harassment of the applicant by the first to fifth respondent at the behest of the sixth respondent (NEXIM Bank) has continued unabated and ad-infinitum.

“It is established beyond per adventure that the first and second respondents (EFCC and IGP) arrested and detained the applicant for four days, seven days and four days respectively.

“The finding in the preceding paragraphs proves that the respondents, particularly the first and second respondents also breached the applicant’s right to freedom of movement and right to acquire and own property under Sections 41 and 43 of the Constitution”, he said.

The judge proceeded to award N50million damages against NEXIM Bank for instigating and managing the duplication and multiplication of petitions against the applicant and cautioned it (the bank) against using government agencies as agents of witch hunt, The Nation reported.

Justice Ikpambese ordered that the EFCC and IGP, “being the organs used by the sixth respondent, are to tender public apology to the applicant and refuse to be used as witch hunts”.

NEWS

Security challenges in Nigeria will soon be over – IGP

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 137 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has assured the citizenry that the security challenges currently facing Nigeria will soon be over.

Baba said this on Monday at the graduation ceremony of Tactical Leadership and Command Course (TLCC) 16/2021 of Police Staff College Jos.

Represented by Mr Danmallam Mohammed, the DIG incharge of Training and Development, Force Headquarters, Baba said that he would ensure peace returns to all crisis areas in the country.

He explained that he would build stronger synergy with other security agencies in the country to ensure all forms of security challenges in country are surmounted.

“We are working hard to make sure that peace and tranquility is restored to all crisis areas in Nigeria.

“Security is everybody’s business; we cannot do it alone, so we are doing our best to reach out and ensure inter-agency cooperation with other security agencies especially the military.

“By the special power of God Almighty, and support of Nigerians, we are going to defeat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all other forms of insecurity in this country, “he said.

The IGP further promised to make training one of the key components of his adminstration, adding that such initiative would ensure proper management of internal security in the country.

He said that the syllabus for the TLCC course was designed to adequately address the basic knowledge required by officers to function optimally in their various posts as tactical commanders.

He added that the course has availed participants the knowledge to play strategic roles in the police force by disseminating the policy direction of the force to the populace.

Baba, who described the EndSARS campaign of 2020 as unfortunate, called on the participants to regularly review their human rights posture as they performed their duties as tactical commanders.

“On the other hand, you must be fast in distinguishing between subversive activities engineered by outlawed organisations and common crimes to enable you apply the necessary force in the defence of your lives and government property.

“I am happy that your course consisted of lessons in community policing and technical aids in policing. The two are the in-thing in modern policing.

“Embrace them and ensure the knowledge trickles down to your subordinates to make your job easier,” he advised the participants.

The IGP thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the police force and promised to work hard to justify all the supports.

Earlier, the Commandant of the College, AIG Don Awunah, said the three-month course had 44 participants, mainly of the rank of the Chief Superindent of Police (CSP).

He said the course is designed to enhance their capacities in human and material resources management and techniques in the performance of their duties, in line with international best practices.

“Basically, the course is meant to refresh participants’ knowledge on the traditional police duties, prepare them for higher responsibilities in management levels and further expose them to emerging trends in crime and criminalities in the modern era.

“This is with a view of optimising their performance in the discharge of their enormous constitutional duties. It is also designed to enable them acquire leadership by design which will further impart on the participants with required skills and competences to effectively manage their subordinates and prepare them for further leadership responsibilities,” he said.

Awunah said as part of the course, participants took part in a three-week joint training code named “Operation Haske Biyu”, with the armed forces and other para-military agencies at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna state.

He also said participants had a week’s outdoor activities at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, Jos, aimed at instilling the tenets of leadership, team work, endurance, courage and empowerment in them.

NEWS

Senate urges IGP, others to investigate Ebonyi killings

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 143 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Senate has called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the killings and kidnapping of citizens in Ebonyi state by alleged herdsmen. 

This was part of resolutions after consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North) yesterday. After observing a minute silence in honour of the deceased victims, the Senate condemned the attacks on Ebonyi communities, which led to the destruction of lives and property.

Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Egwu, in the motion titled: “urgent need for the federal government’s intervention to end the serial killing of innocent and defenseless citizens in Ebonyi state by alleged herdsmen”, bemoaned the general state of insecurity in the country. 

He expressed concern that, “the killing, maiming, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by herdsmen have now become the daily experience of citizens of innocent and defenseless people of Ebonyi state who are murder in their numbers almost on weekly basis.”

“Aware that on 30th day of March, 2021, over 18 indigenes of Egedege, Obehi and Amuzu communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, including a priest, were gruesomely murdered in cold blood by rampaging herdsmen.

“Alarmed that on Monday the 12th day of April, 2021, alleged herdsmen/Agila people again invaded Otuebu, Igidi Obu and Ndiagu Ibe-Agba villages in Umuogudu Akpu community, Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State and gruesomely killed over 12 innocent indigenes, burnt/destroyed over 56 houses and kidnapped five persons. 

“Concerned that if the federal government does not intervene urgently, these wicked and senseless killings, kidnapping and destruction of property may continue, thereby subjecting Ebonyians and other citizens in Ebonyi state to severe hardship and terrific fear”, Senator Egwu said. 

In his contribution, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) advocated inter-agency interventions that would halt the killings across the country.

“The most important part of our time spent here has always been about reportage of killings of our people in the hands of herdsmen.

“Mr. President, this is becoming very worrisome, that in a country under the rule of law, issues of these nature keep repeating daily. I am begging that, to solve this issue, we should make out time to have inter-agency meetings to sit down and see how we can return to these rules of engagement that can allow us do business without hindrance.”

Senator Michael Nnachi (PDP, Ebonyi South) lamented the number of lives lost to communal clashes and herdsmen. According to him, the ceaseless killings made citizens in Ebonyi to live in fear.

“I got a call that nobody slept at Abakaliki in fear of the herdsmen attacking them last night, because they got signal that they were around. All of them ran into their houses. 

“Just less than three weeks over thirty-three people were killed by herdsmen; over seven hundred people killed by communal clashes between Benue, Effium and Ezza – which is part of Benue and Ebonyi,” Nnachi said.

NEWS

‘Security situation in south-east, south-south is critical’ – IGP

By Racheal Ayodele 166 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Acting inspector-general of police (IGP), Usman Baba has said there is a critical security situation in the south-east and south-south geopolitical zones.

Baba who spoke on Friday in Abuja at a meeting with police strategic commanders in the zones,  said the meeting was aimed at discussing security issues affecting the two regions of the country in order to resolve them.

According to Baba, after the meeting, the commanders will go back to their zones to implement the outcome.

The IGP said the challenges would require the force to rejig its operational strategies to ensure that the issues were nip in the bud immediately.

Baba said: “It is not like we do not have problems in other geopolitical zones of the country, but we have to address them one after the other.”

He said calling a meeting of all commissioners of police and other senior officers would not be right at the moment because of COVID-19 protocols.

During his inaugural address as IGP, Baba had said he is convinced that Nigeria can overcome its present security challenges.

He noted that it is possible “if we resolved as a people to partner and present a common front against the subversive and criminal elements who are the common enemy of the whole nation”.

NEWS

IGP appoints principal officers, re-appoints Frank Mba

By Racheal Ayodele 110 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has approved the posting of Hafiz Inuwa, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) as the Force Secretary and member of the Force Management Team.  

This was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police (CP), in Abuja yesterday.

According to the statement, the IGP also approved the re-appointment of Mba and Idowu Owohunwa, an acting Commissioner of Police, as the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the IGP, respectively.
 
Inuwa takes over from Mustapha Dandaura (AIG), who has been redeployed to Zone-7 Police Headquarters, Abuja.  

 Before now, he was the AIG in charge of Zone-13, Ukpo-Dunukofia in Awka, Anambra State, covering Anambra and Enugu states Commands. 

Mba has served as Police spokesman for three IGPs, while Owohunwa was the PSO-IGP between 2015 and 2016.

The IGP has also approved the posting of Idris Abdullahi Abubakar (CSP) as the PSO II to the IGP, SP Isah Abdulhamid as PA-IGP, and Nura Kabir Hanga (SP) as Secretary-IGP, amongst other personal aides. 

The appointments/postings take immediate effect.

NEWS PhotoNewsman

PHOTOS: Usman Baba decorated as police IG

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 157 0

NEWSMAN, Abuja – Newly appointed police boss Usman Baba has been decorated with the rank of Inspector General of Police.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo performed the ceremony at the presidential villa.

Baba is officially taking over from Mohammed Adamu in acting capacity until his appointment is confirmed by the senate.

His appointment was announced on Monday, two months after Mohammad Adamu’s tenure expired.

The new IGP is taking over amidst rising security concerns and the recent attacks on police stations in Imo state.

Baba who is from Yobe state holds a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and a BA (ED) in Political Science. A fellow of the National Defence College and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He has attended several professional courses/workshops, and has held several strategic positions in the past.

NEWS

Imo: Again, gunmen set another police facility ablaze

By Blessing Shemiye Bala 183 0

NEWSMAN, Owerri – Another police station has been set ablaze in Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east, few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the just sacked Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, left Owerri, the state capital. 

This happened barely 48 hours after some gunmen launched a daring attack on the police headquarters in the state.

Unknown gunmen had also attacked Owerri Correctional Centre and the Imo State Police Command headquarters, freeing 1,884 inmates and razing over 50 vehicles.

Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo and other Federal Government officials, including the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had visited the state to inspect the level of damage on the burnt police and prison facilities.

The gunmen burnt Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters shortly after the dignitaries left.

Police spokesperson in Imo State, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attack on the police facility.

The police headquarters and the Correctional Center in Imo were attacked by unknown gunmen on Sunday, with some inmates escaping in the process.

The latest attack occurred few hours after the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and other government functionaries visited the state to inspect the attacked facilities.

The police spokesperson, Mr Ikeokwu, a superintendent of police, said no life was lost in the latest attack.

“Yes I can confirm to you that the police facility was attacked today by bandits.

“No casualty on the part of police, no loss of arms but three vehicles were burnt in the process,” he said.

The attack has brought to five the number of police facilities destroyed in the state between February and April.

They are Obowo, Aboh-Mbaise, Ihite Uboma, Isiala Mbano and Ehime Mbano as well as the police headquarters in the state.

There has been spate of attacks on police officers and police facilities lately around the country’s South-east and South-south regions, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

In the neighbouring Abia State, the state government has imposed curfew in some cities as a preventive measure against another of such attack.

Meanwhile, the pro-Biafra group, IPOB, has denied the accusation that it was behind the Sunday’s attack on the police headquarters in Imo.