New IG of Police, MD Abubakar implicated in 2001 Jos massacre of Christians

Posted by admin General Politics, Latest Politics, Nigerian Police Thursday, January 26th, 2012

New IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

As he prepares to assume office as the acting Inspector General of
Police, 54 year old Mr. Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar’s role during the
2001 Jos, Plateau State, sectarian strife in which several lives were lost
has remains a dark spot in his career in the Nigeria Police Force which
spanned 33 years.

As the Plateau State Commissioner of Police during the crisis, M.D.
Abubakar was indicted by the Justice Niki Tobi panel which investigated
the crisis, for his “ignoble role in the crisis” and recommended that he be
retired immediately from the force.

Justice Tobi, a respected retired Supreme Court Justice, further
recommended that Abubakar should be sacked if he declines a request to
resign honourably, following his complicity in the killing of Christians in
Plateau State during the religious crisis in that state.

The White Paper released by the Plateau State Government said:
“Religious fanatics should not be posted to head state police commands.
The commission recommends that for his ignoble role during the
September 2001 crisis which resulted in the loss of lives, the former
Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar,
be advised to retire from the Nigeria Police Force and in the event of his
refusal to do so, he should be dismissed from the service.”

The panel further said, “The non-implementation by government of the
report of previous commissions of enquiries and in particular the report of
the commission of enquiry into the riots of April 12, 1994 in Jos metropolis
(the main features of which are very similar to the September 2001 civil
disturbances) is a sure recipe for a repeat performance of such
disturbances”.

“There was strong and convincing evidence before the commission that:
on April 11, 1994, just a day before the fateful day, Alhaji Yaya Aga
Abubakar, the President of Jasawa Development Association, in the
company of Alhaji Aminu Mato’s younger brother, Sanusi Mato, held a
meeting at Masallaci Juma at Jos with the Jasawa community during
which they resolved to carry out a demonstration the following day.

“So, Yaya Abubakar and Sanusi Mato were directly connected with riots.
They were the leaders of the insurrection that brought disaster and shame
to Jos metropolis, to Plateau State and to Nigeria, that brought death and
destruction of lives and properties”.

The Justice Tobi panel further recommended that the Hausa/Fulani should
be encouraged to begin negotiations with other communities in the state
and “accept the ownership of Jos by the Ajizere, Anaguta and Berom”,
noting that “Anything short of that will not make for peace in Jos.”

Abubakar was an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone 5,
but was Plateau State Commissioner of Police during the crisis in 2001
during the administration of former Governor, Mr. Joshua Dariye.

The panel was constituted on September 7, 2001 to review and proffer
solutions to the perennial religious crisis that has plagued the state, but
its report was eventually made public on February 16, 2010.

His appointment as Acting IGP is also coming at a time when the Boko
Haram sect has placed a Fatwa on all Christians and southerners living in
Northern Nigeria.

–Africanexaminerwp_posts