The reaction of the Force was contained in a statement signed by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jimoh O. Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO). The statement explained that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Lawal K Idris, set up an investigative panel comprising senior police officers and officers of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) to investigate irregularities, incidents of violence and the roles of security agencies, including the Police; INEC and other stakeholders deployed for the re-run elections.
The joint investigative panel, the statement further noted, was also mandated to investigate the prevalence of armed robbery, kidnapping/hostage taking, hijack of election materials and attacks on the electorate, INEC staff, ad-hoc electoral personnel. The Police added that the panel submitted its report to the Inspector General of Police on February 7.
The joint investigative panel, the statement further noted, was also mandated to investigate the prevalence of armed robbery, kidnapping/hostage taking, hijack of election materials and attacks on the electorate, INEC staff, ad-hoc electoral personnel. The Police added that the panel submitted its report to the Inspector General of Police on February 7.
“The Nigeria Police Force identified and has proactively taken action against six Police officers, who were indicted by the Investigative Panel report to have compromised, engaged in serious misconduct, misused of firearms, and for other conducts in violation of the Electoral Act and other enabling laws during the Rivers rerun election.
“They were arrested, investigated and subjected to internal disciplinary measures, after being found guilty were dismissed from the Force and paraded before the media on January 6, 2017 and are awaiting prosecution. Other agencies whose personnel were also indicted by the Joint Investigative Panel are expected to do the same to their personnel indicted in the report without any further delay,” the statement said.
Pres. Buhari, outgoing IGP Solomon Arase and new Acting Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Kpotun IdrisIt added that 23 INEC electoral officials and two of the commission’s administrative officials indicted by the panel were arrested, investigated and admitted collecting a total of N111, 300,000 from Mr. Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State.
“The money was recovered from them. They were granted bail to the Director of Human Resources, INEC Headquarters Abuja.
“The report, as quoted above, is a disservice to the Nigeria Police Force because all the issues raised were discovered by the Joint Investigative Panel and have been dealt with. The story is, therefore, misleading, malicious and capable of misinforming members of the public on the statutory roles of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.
It maintained that the Nigeria Police Force remains apolitical and will continue to ensure that election security is guaranteed across the country.
BY SAHARA REPORTERS
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment