Juliana Francis
The Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday said he was in support of
the $7m (N1.1bn) reward offered by the United States to anybody with
information on the location of the leader of the dreaded Boko Haram sect,
Abubakar Shekau.
The IG made this
declaration during the commissioning of the newly completed ultra modern and
renovated hospitals, at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Fielding questions
from journalists, Abubakar said the ransom offered by US to help Nigeria end
terrorism was good. Calling on Nigerians who have information to make sure know
to the relevant authourities and collect the reward, Abubakar further added
that he was sure that the move by US would help in the ongoing terrorism war.
His words: “Yes, it’s
good! Anybody who has any information should come forward such information and
claim the reward.”
Asked if he
believes that the reward will help in checking terrorism, he said: “Yes, of
course!”
Abubakar, who also
spoke on the lingering Plateau State Fulani herdsman clashes, said that the
major problem faced by law enforcement officers in quelling the crisis was the
porosity of the vast areas.
“Since police wade
into the matter, the killing has drastically reduced. This crisis as you called
it started in 2000. Some people have called it an ethic problem, others see as
a religious problem and still more insisted that it is farmer feud. But I want
to tell you that the police can only succeed in that area if community members
partner with the police. It is police efforts that led to the reduction of the
killings. The porosity of the land is much! People who embarked on these acts
used to move from one place to another. The police can’t be everywhere! And this
crisis is not only in Plateau.”
Oba Rilwan Akiolu
of Lagos, who was also at the event, also spoke on the insecurity in the
country. According to him, he had not been quite on the issue of the
insecurity.
He revealed that
he had personally called President Good luck Jonathan, intimidating that some
leaders in the country were not honest people and that he should deal with
them, adding that it was prayers, more than anything now that the country
needed to survive.
He said: “if
everyone plays his role, the insecurity will be get better. Rich people among
us should help in making Nigeria to stay intact.”
Speaking on the
Ultra modern hospitals, which had also been replicated in other states of the
federation, Abubakar said: “Today, history is being made as we try to take care
of the welfare of the police.
“You can talk of
security without a police force that has a sound health. I thank all the
medical personnel. We’re doing all these to make sure police officers are not
left unattended to. Despite the challenges we’re facing, we’ll get there! We shall
not fail this country! The best we can give to this country is our lives, which
we’ve given to this country already! I promise to get nine personnel for the
hospitals. There is also need for promotion of the personnel. Motivation is a
factor to act efficiently!”
Retired IGP,
Musiliu Smith, who was at the event, described the hospitals, as a very important
welfare project. He said that before, policemen used to be taken to Teaching
and private hospitals, which usually gulped a lot of money, but this, would now
be a thing of the past. He added: “This is a step in the right direction. Due
to stress of police job, there are always health problems, but these problems
can be managed!”
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