President Goodluck Jonathan has given the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, 24 hours to produce Boko Haram suspect Kabiru Sokoto who escaped from police detention on Monday.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Zakari Biu, the head of the Zonal Command -7 of the Nigeria Police Force handling Boko Haram investigation in the Crime Investigation Department was suspended by the IGP. Police sources said they were shocked that Mr. Biu was brought into the unit in the first place, given his background. Under Mr. Biu, many Boko Haram suspects have been released under questionable circumstances.
The suspect was allegedly responsible for the Christmas bombing of St Theresa's Catholic Church, in Madalla, Niger State, about which he made useful statements to the police concerning the masterminds of the sect.
Apparently in a bid to prevent him from exposing the sponsors of terrorism, he was allowed to escape in questionable circumstances.
Whereas he was arrested by two lorry loads of mobile policemen on Saturday, only three policemen were detailed to accompany him to his house yesterday for a belated search.
It is an unusual practice that the suspect was accompanied only by a few police officers, which is at variance with police procedures that ensure that high value terror suspects are accompanied by well-armed mobile police officers with advance parties as well as surveillance teams in mufti.
Mr. Biu acted as an enforcer for former military dictator Sanni Abacha. In his heyday in the force in the 1990s, he was responsible for detonating bombs that were later ascribed to opposition figures in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Mr. Biu was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, but he was later reintegrated into the force as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, and then promoted to Commissioner of Police under Mr. Jonathan.
A source told Confirmed that Mr. Biu was very bitter about the death of his son, Tahir Zakari Biu, an officer at the EFCC who was killed in the October 1, 2010 Independence Day bombing that claimed 27 lives in Abuja.
The blast was allegedly carried out by the Niger Delta militant group, MEND.
In a new petition yesterday to President Jonathan today, prominent Nigerian civil rights lawyer, Femi Falana called on Mr. Jonathan to remove IGP Ringim himself from office, or he will request the special prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute him for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity.”
Mr. Falana, commenting on the escape of the Boko Haram suspect from police custody, recalled Mr. Jonathan’s recent disclosure that the federal government has been infiltrated by the sect. He noted that although the statement was borne out of frustration, the government should be blamed for rejecting the genuine calls for the removal of incompetent security chiefs.
“It was particularly embarrassing that Mr. Hafiz Ringim was retained as the Inspector-General of Police after hosting a co-founder of the dangerous Boko Haram sect last year,” Mr. Falana said. “When asked to justify the meeting which was held at the police headquarters, the police chief claimed that he handed over the prime suspect to an unnamed security agency! In an interview aired on AIT later the wanted suspect claimed that he alerted the IGP, in advance, of the bombing of the police headquarters.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayEarlier, the Commissioner of Police, Zakari Biu, the head of the Zonal Command -7 of the Nigeria Police Force handling Boko Haram investigation in the Crime Investigation Department was suspended by the IGP. Police sources said they were shocked that Mr. Biu was brought into the unit in the first place, given his background. Under Mr. Biu, many Boko Haram suspects have been released under questionable circumstances.
The suspect was allegedly responsible for the Christmas bombing of St Theresa's Catholic Church, in Madalla, Niger State, about which he made useful statements to the police concerning the masterminds of the sect.
Apparently in a bid to prevent him from exposing the sponsors of terrorism, he was allowed to escape in questionable circumstances.
Whereas he was arrested by two lorry loads of mobile policemen on Saturday, only three policemen were detailed to accompany him to his house yesterday for a belated search.
It is an unusual practice that the suspect was accompanied only by a few police officers, which is at variance with police procedures that ensure that high value terror suspects are accompanied by well-armed mobile police officers with advance parties as well as surveillance teams in mufti.
Mr. Biu acted as an enforcer for former military dictator Sanni Abacha. In his heyday in the force in the 1990s, he was responsible for detonating bombs that were later ascribed to opposition figures in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Mr. Biu was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo, but he was later reintegrated into the force as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, and then promoted to Commissioner of Police under Mr. Jonathan.
A source told Confirmed that Mr. Biu was very bitter about the death of his son, Tahir Zakari Biu, an officer at the EFCC who was killed in the October 1, 2010 Independence Day bombing that claimed 27 lives in Abuja.
The blast was allegedly carried out by the Niger Delta militant group, MEND.
In a new petition yesterday to President Jonathan today, prominent Nigerian civil rights lawyer, Femi Falana called on Mr. Jonathan to remove IGP Ringim himself from office, or he will request the special prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute him for aiding and abetting crimes against humanity.”
Mr. Falana, commenting on the escape of the Boko Haram suspect from police custody, recalled Mr. Jonathan’s recent disclosure that the federal government has been infiltrated by the sect. He noted that although the statement was borne out of frustration, the government should be blamed for rejecting the genuine calls for the removal of incompetent security chiefs.
“It was particularly embarrassing that Mr. Hafiz Ringim was retained as the Inspector-General of Police after hosting a co-founder of the dangerous Boko Haram sect last year,” Mr. Falana said. “When asked to justify the meeting which was held at the police headquarters, the police chief claimed that he handed over the prime suspect to an unnamed security agency! In an interview aired on AIT later the wanted suspect claimed that he alerted the IGP, in advance, of the bombing of the police headquarters.”
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Stories that touch the heart
ReplyDeleteThe bible says " Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee." That man has comitted sacriledge and the word of God will make all of them to submit themselves.GEJ keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThe God of vengeance will enlish terror ,fire and brimstone against those devils in government masquarading in either police,army mufti uniform or politicians. unless they all repent and confess thier heinous sins thus says the LORD OF HOSTS.
ReplyDeletehmmmmmm..............................hmmmmmmmm............God Bless Nigeria. shikena, kosoro
ReplyDeleteNigerian police are the worst and uncivilized unprofessional uniformed people in the world. Brandishing AK47 rifles by the road side in their raggedy wrinkled attire collecting bribes in broad daylight, they are a menace to themselves and the society. absence of police on Nigerian streets will make people have a sigh of relief. They never combat crime and will be the first to be out of the scene with their tails between their legs when armed robbers are on rampage. They have caused thousands of death annually as a result of illegal road blocks on highways.
ReplyDeleteIf the Nigerian president is actually protecting Nigeria as he claims to, All the people linked with the escape of that man should now be in prison; from the IG, To the socalled commissioner, and down to the men from whos hands he escaped should be kept behind the bar and lets watch nigeria. But if our president can not help us, God almighty will surely help Nigeria; The saints are crying unto The Most High!
ReplyDeletedis 1 na serious mata!
ReplyDeletewhat has happened now?. 24 hrs is over
ReplyDeletewhat next?
is this how this will end again, what are we made of in this country?
God do something in this country soon.
Hafiz Ringim!Its more than 24hrs...so why hasn't he been sacked?
ReplyDelete