Boko Haram: Mass transfer of police officers imminent (Why transfer, sack them)

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Latest Politics, Nigerian Police Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

THERE are clear indications that the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, may effect a mass transfer of officers from Force Headquarters

to police zones and state commands.

This follows last Thursday’s bomb blast, which killed about eight people and destroyed over 70 cars, at the Force Headquarters. The wreckage of the cars is now being cleared away.

Also, repair works on the damaged windows and some structures have commenced, as artisans were seen, on Tuesday, fixing all the accessories that were affected in the bomb blast.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that fear has gripped most of the officers at the Force Headquarters as the news of the mass transfer filtered through.

Some of them were seen discussing their fate in hushed tones, as the IGP will effect the transfers after meeting with the DIGs, AIGs and the CPs today after their monthly conference.

The meeting, which was slated for Tuesday, was shifted to today, following the summoning of the IGP to the National Security Adviser’s office with other security chiefs.

However, the AIGs and the CPs, who were consequently divided into groups, were asked to brainstorm on different topics, such as the emerging security challenges and were directed to present a position paper later today.

Newsmen that gathered to hear from the IGP on the latest on the bomb blast were disappointed, as they were directed to report today to be addressed by the IGP on the development.

Reliable police sources disclosed that the issue of mass transfer came about because of insinuations that there might have been insiders connivance with the bombers.

Activities have almost come to a standstill as visitors are no longer allowed to enter the Force Headquarters premises without paper invitation or clearance.

Meanwhile, detectives have continued their search in the suspected hideouts of Boko Haram in the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the nation’s top security officials, on Tuesday, held marathon security council meeting to address the current security challenges facing the country at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, briefed other top security chiefs on the last Thursday bombing of the Nigeria Police Headquarters, Abuja, by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
It was also learnt that the nation’s top security chiefs used the opportunity of the meeting to strategise on the best solution to meet the challenges posed by the Boko Haram threats.

However, unconfirmed report indicated that the presidency, before the meeting, had summoned the police chief, who looked unruffled after the security meeting and was seen exchanging pleasantries with people at the villa.

The meeting, it was learnt, critically examined security lapses across the states, with a view to finding lasting solutions to the Boko Haram threat and re-ccurring attacks on life and property of innocent citizens across the country.

Although no official statement was issued at the end of the meeting, sources at the meeting revealed that the government was weighing all the options in its determination to halt the spate of killings in some parts of the country.

Those who attended the meeting, apart from state governors, were the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika; National SecurityAdviser, General Owoye Azazi; Director-General of State Security Service, Mr Ekpenyong Itam.

Others included the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador E. Oladeji and representatives of the chief of naval and air staff, among others.

-Tribunewp_posts