The police authorities also warned thugs to find another legitimate source of
livelihood, as the police are combat-ready to ensure that thugs and their
sponsors do not have breathing space during the 2015 elections.
The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, disclosed this on Wednesday, while responding to questions from journalists at a meeting with top police hierarchy, including Assistant Inspectors General and Commissioners of Police in Abuja.
The IGP also formally launched a human rights manual, which would serve as a guide to the police officers.
The meeting, according to the IGP, was to ensure that the 2015 general election was hitch-free.
“The purpose of this meeting today is in furtherance of our efforts to make sure the 2015 general election is not only acceptable but also safe. We will make sure it is safely conducted.
“One of the main issues we will be discussing is the issue of mopping up of arms, zero tolerance for thugs and thuggery and many other issues that are important in having a safe conduct of the 2015 elections.
“The mopping up of arms has been a continuous exercise. I want to particularly mention what you have been witnessing in Imo and Zamfara states. Hitherto, efforts were made to arm the vigilante and militia in those states and I recall my directives in writing to them where we directed every commissioner of police to, not only make a press statement banning the possession of illegal weapons, but also advised members of the public to return those arms to the police.
“While those recovered through our own efforts, as the law provides, will be prosecuted and justice will take its cause. This is a continuous exercise and we do not intend to stop it. What we are doing now is that we are laying emphasis on it in view of our coming elections and in particular the electioneering campaigns which will begin in few days time,’’ he said.
believing that sometimes politicians, sometimes to their knowledge and sometimes outside their knowledge their supporters get themselves armed and before you know it, they begin to use it against themselves.
“We have the responsibility to protect the lives and property of people in Nigeria and for that reason we are moping out those arms, especially that elections are ahead. We will restrategise, we will put more efforts.”
Speaking on human rights, the IGP said “Previously human right desks officers were appointed but the difference between those efforts and our own effort or in addition to those efforts is the fact that every officer will have a guidance. This manual, for example, I will make sure every police officer gets a copy.
“Similarly, the desk officer manual makes a difference. Establishing the desk, appointing the officers was a big step, what we are adding to it is that he should do what he should and we are making it easier by putting it in a booklet so that they continue to read it every day.
“Aside from that, these books shall become part of lectures in all our training institutions and informally, heads of Departments, commanders, and sectional heads will also make it a subject of lecture which we conduct weekly in our offices. I appeal to the members of the public to have the confidence that we mean business and we are going to protect the rights of evrry person in Nigeria.”
On the police officers who are still missing, after the attack by the Boko Haram on the police training school at Goza, the IGP said: “We will not relent on efforts being made to trace them. I mentioned it few days ago that one of them reported, I believe and I have not seen any reason why I should doubt that either today or tomorrow, the will come back and when they come back we will give them all the necessary assistance, not only to regain their health, but to also go back to their job.”http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/21400-igp-talks-tough-on-containing-thugs-illegal-arms
The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, disclosed this on Wednesday, while responding to questions from journalists at a meeting with top police hierarchy, including Assistant Inspectors General and Commissioners of Police in Abuja.
The IGP also formally launched a human rights manual, which would serve as a guide to the police officers.
The meeting, according to the IGP, was to ensure that the 2015 general election was hitch-free.
“The purpose of this meeting today is in furtherance of our efforts to make sure the 2015 general election is not only acceptable but also safe. We will make sure it is safely conducted.
“One of the main issues we will be discussing is the issue of mopping up of arms, zero tolerance for thugs and thuggery and many other issues that are important in having a safe conduct of the 2015 elections.
“The mopping up of arms has been a continuous exercise. I want to particularly mention what you have been witnessing in Imo and Zamfara states. Hitherto, efforts were made to arm the vigilante and militia in those states and I recall my directives in writing to them where we directed every commissioner of police to, not only make a press statement banning the possession of illegal weapons, but also advised members of the public to return those arms to the police.
“While those recovered through our own efforts, as the law provides, will be prosecuted and justice will take its cause. This is a continuous exercise and we do not intend to stop it. What we are doing now is that we are laying emphasis on it in view of our coming elections and in particular the electioneering campaigns which will begin in few days time,’’ he said.
believing that sometimes politicians, sometimes to their knowledge and sometimes outside their knowledge their supporters get themselves armed and before you know it, they begin to use it against themselves.
“We have the responsibility to protect the lives and property of people in Nigeria and for that reason we are moping out those arms, especially that elections are ahead. We will restrategise, we will put more efforts.”
Speaking on human rights, the IGP said “Previously human right desks officers were appointed but the difference between those efforts and our own effort or in addition to those efforts is the fact that every officer will have a guidance. This manual, for example, I will make sure every police officer gets a copy.
“Similarly, the desk officer manual makes a difference. Establishing the desk, appointing the officers was a big step, what we are adding to it is that he should do what he should and we are making it easier by putting it in a booklet so that they continue to read it every day.
“Aside from that, these books shall become part of lectures in all our training institutions and informally, heads of Departments, commanders, and sectional heads will also make it a subject of lecture which we conduct weekly in our offices. I appeal to the members of the public to have the confidence that we mean business and we are going to protect the rights of evrry person in Nigeria.”
On the police officers who are still missing, after the attack by the Boko Haram on the police training school at Goza, the IGP said: “We will not relent on efforts being made to trace them. I mentioned it few days ago that one of them reported, I believe and I have not seen any reason why I should doubt that either today or tomorrow, the will come back and when they come back we will give them all the necessary assistance, not only to regain their health, but to also go back to their job.”http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/21400-igp-talks-tough-on-containing-thugs-illegal-arms
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