Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, has alleged some Governors are fuelling violence ahead of the 2023 polls.
He spoke in Abuja on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at a meeting with chairmen of all 18 political parties and heads of security operatives.
The IGP, who did not mention the Governors involved in the act, stated that 52 cases of such politically-motivated, intra and inter-party violence have been recorded across 22 States since the official commencement of campaigns for the 2023 general elections on September 28.
He condemned the burning of offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, offices in Osun and Ogun States.
The police boss said: “We have been receiving reports of some State Governors who encourage political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless and statutorily guaranteed campaign activities of parties or candidates with whom they hold opposing political views.
‘’In so doing, they deploy their powers and influences to either prevent the mounting of campaign bill boards or pull them down while also denying political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (As amended).
‘’Most of the recorded violent incidents or threats, he said often result from political extremism, misinformation, intolerance, wrong political orientation, hate speeches, incitement, and, most importantly, the desperation of strategic actors within the political field who often place their parochial political ambitions over and above national security interests and our nation’s stable democratic order.’’
He said if political thugs were armed with any sort of weapons and inspired by any political actor to advance an illegal act including attacking innocent citizens for political purpose or attacking INEC assets and personnel, or any other critical infrastructure in the country, such persons and those orchestrating them stand the risk of being brought to justice for the specific crime associated with their conducts regardless of their political affiliation, status or ambitions.
IGP Warns Against Use Of Police Uniforms On Social Media
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a strict warning on the misuse of police uniforms on social media.
This is coming after the police suspended two supernumerary officers for violation of social media policy.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, in a statement said the use of uniforms is only restricted to officers of the force.
Part of the statement read; “The incessant, illegal and unwarranted use of Police Uniforms restricted to bonafide serving officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
“This is coming on the heels of the suspension of two Supernumerary Police Officers, with immediate effect, for breach of the provisions of the Police Act, 2020.
“The Nigeria Police Guidelines for Recruitment/Promotion/Discipline of Supernumerary Police (SPY) 2013 by the Inspector-General of Police, as captured in a video posted by one of the officers in a viral video on August 3rd, 2022.”
IGP Awards Policeman For Rejecting $200,000 Bribe From Robbers
Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has given an award of commendation to a Policeman, Daniel Amah, for rejecting Two hundred thousand Dollars bribe from armed robbery suspects.
Amah was showered with encomium by the IGP Baba, represented by a Deputy Commission of Police, DCP Abubakar Zubair, on Monday, August 15, 2022, while handing over the award.
Amah was said to have led the arrest and prosecution of one Ali Zaki along with some Police Officers, in a case of Armed Robbery involving Three hundred and twenty million five hundred thousand Naira, (N320,500:00million)
It was gathered Amah was offered about N100million by the principal suspect in an attempt to cover up the crime but he refused.
The IGP who was delighted by the outstanding performance, honoured Amah for professionalism and excellent work ethics.
Source: The Nation
