The National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Patrick Azazi, has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, following his response to the query issued to him over the escape from police custody of Kabir Umar Sokoto, suspected to be the mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madala in Niger State.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Captain Caleb Olubolade, who revealed this to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said the panel whose composition he did not reveal, comprises senior military officers and personnel from the Ministry of Police Affairs and has about one week to turn in its report.
Olubolade had indicated, last Wednesday, that the IGP had been given 24 hours to re-arrest the suspect, who escaped in Abaji, Abuja while he was being escorted by police on a search mission in his residence.
All the policemen involved in the operation have since been ordered to be detained, including Zakari Biu, a Commissioner of Police.
The minister indicated that rather than sack Ringim as widely expected, the panel would be allowed to complete its assignment first to determine the complicity of those involved in the suspect's escape saga.
"Like I did say the other time, I have given some directives. The Inspector General of Police has responded. A committee has been set up above the police which takes into cognizance experts in various aspects to come together and conduct another investigation. So, that is being assembled and they have been set up to work. I think this is how far we have gone", Olubolade stated.
He said though the IGP had responded to the query, it was now the responsibility of the new committee to determine the correctness of his position.
Olubolade who conceded that Ringim had survived the 24 hours' ultimatum even though he had not produce the suspect, noted that "one thing is to explain and another thing is to look at the content of those explanations. That assignment will be done by the investigation panel set up by the National Security Adviser. I am not a member of the committee.
"I have to tell Nigerians that, because an investigation panel has been set up, they (Nigerians) should be patient and allow them do their job very briefly. A time line has been given to them and at the end of that, something will come out. So, we should not preempt", he stated.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested the traditional ruler of a satelite town in Abuja, the Ona of Abuja, Adamu Baba, over the escape of Kabir Sokoto.
The monarch, in whose palace, Kabir Sokoto was alleged to have escaped, was arrested alongside his son.
Top police sources told Saturday Tribune that the monarch was arrested following his allegedly complicity in the escape saga.
According to the sources, he was alleged to have ordered the investigating team to bring the suspect to his palace before any search could be carried out.
It was also alleged that the traditional ruler knew every contact and movement of the Boko Haram suspect, who lived in his domain.
The sources added that Baba allegedly blocked the police from carrying out their search by ordering the youth to unleach mayhem on the detectives. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Let the commitee be honest to themselves because we(Nigerians) are waiting for results & solution.
ReplyDeleteIt is high time those involving in terrorism were dealt with. I think this government should use one person as a scape goat no matter how highly placed he is, whether a traditional ruler or a government official. Disgracing and deposing or outright sack of such individual will be a step in a right direction.
ReplyDeleteThis is a big joke. How could he have escape from the police custody and still yet to be caught. All the innocent blood suckers shall not go free including the highly placed men
ReplyDeleteNigeria under GEJ is snowballing into a failed state. GEJ has demonstrated that it lacks the will, ability and capacity to confront the terrorist group - Boko Haram.
ReplyDeleteThe President by confirming the infiltration of the Boko Haram sect in his government has indirectly told Nigerians that he has nothing more to offer other than the removal of fuel subsidy.
This is outright madness in its highest order.Lets be truthful to ourselves,i think the nigerian police force needs a complete overhauling.We are no longer guaranteed safety in this country.All the investigations is just a joke,a mere attempt to delay .Now that boko haram has started targeting police personnel ,i know this would make them more serious in their duties.I just hope they wud not unleash terror on innocent citizens in venting their anger.
ReplyDeleteThese days everything must end in probes and committees... Nigeria, which way?
ReplyDeleteI wish to appeal to the Presidency to employ some experts in handling this job. its obvious that the boko haram group has infiltrated the Government who knows their next targets.
ReplyDeleteAlso I want to add that when boko haram members are apprehended, they should be flown to a more secured location. the Nigerian Police has failed upon all the money invested in it. So what can they(Police) do if they cannot conduct a simple investigation. am sure it was not the police that caught the guy. the police should be smarter than this, not only in collecting N50 on the road. that was a high profile case and no story telling is permitted.
Overhaul the entire security formation!
The Will has to there to apprehend this people. All we need to is track their locations. Technology will make this possible(satellite analysis or even tracking their IP addresses of the computers they use in sending email) Let the Ministry of Technology aid in this process. It is easy!
ReplyDeleteThey should stop fooling themselves not Nigerians. A criminal suppose to be handcuffed. How did Kabir escape, sumbody had been paid.
ReplyDeleteOnly God sees the whole thing.
Treat all the police involved as terrorists!!! Cos they are!!! The look very closely at the IGP cos a criminal of that caliber to be caught, k.sokoto should have been transported in an armored truck, with atleast 50 very well armed soldiers as escort!!!!! The police has definitely been paid off, that's is why we even hear of people being caught with fresh human heads only to be released mins later!!!!
ReplyDelete