Polls violence panel seeks protection, non-interference

EU wants trial of masterminds of election killings

A MASS deployment of officers and men of the Police Force in five states that are prone to crises is underway as a way of addressing violent clashes and kidnapping in the country.

The violence-prone states are Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna and Niger.

The Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, who disclosed this yesterday at the opening of the first post-election meeting with senior officers, noted that some notorious armed robbers and kidnappers had been arrested in Akwa Ibom and the South-East and vowed to reduce crime rate in the country.

In the meantime, the Chairman of the Presidential Investigation Panel on 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, yesterday urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security for its members and ensure non-interference in their activities.

Lemu made the call after President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated them in the Federal Executive Council Chambers in Abuja. He hinged his call for adequate security on the scepticism he said has greeted their formation by some parties and individuals.

He, however, pledged on behalf of other members to do their best without fear or favour.

He remarked: “Finally, I have two substantive requests to make on behalf of the members and that is effective security in view of the scepticism of some political parties and assumption of witch-hunting, consequently I request Mr. President again for effective measures to forestall interference by anybody from any quarters. For every member has integrity in the eyes of God and man to protect.  Some of us like myself have already collected their respective boarding passes at the age of 82, sitting in the departure lounge awaiting for the call to board the plane with the hope of their destination to be at yonder Insha Allah”, he said.

Also, the European Union (EU) has again asked that the perpetrators of the killings caused by the last elections be brought to book.

Ringim, who expressed concern over disturbances caused by a religious sect, Boko Haram and kidnappers, vowed that his administration would put an end to the mayhem being caused by the group.

“We intend to embark on a massive deployment of police in those areas that are prone to crises. We will have a massive deployment. The police will concentrate on efforts in those states until we abolish the menace of Boko Haram and kidnapping”, he said.

He also disclosed that the efforts of the Police in this regard had started yielding fruits with the killing of a notorious criminal, Osikanku, and arrest of some members of his gang. He said that the suspects who were arrested in Akwa Ibom had confessed and were now giving the police useful information.

He paraded the suspects arrested in Akwa Ibom and Anambra.    The police boss commended the police for the excellent performance during the just-concluded general elections, noting that “never before did we have this type of performance where the whole world is applauding the Nigeria police.”

He, however, attributed the success to the President, who he said wanted the Police to be neutral and allow winners to emerge through the popular mandate of the people.

He charged the police officers to brace to the challenge and assured them that the Federal Government would give the necessary support.

Earlier, Jonathan said he had done everything he could to ensure that the nation had a credible election and wondered why after such a successful exercise rather than allow the people to savour the good conduct of the elections, they resorted to violence and wanton destruction of public and private properties.

“It is sadly ironical that at a time one should be celebrating the landmark democratic achievement of the nationally and internationally acclaimed 2011 elections, we are faced with the task of confronting the challenge posed by the unprecedented violence which flared up in parts of the country.

“The 2007 electoral act was expeditiously amended, funds requested by INEC were speedily released, we encouraged the accreditation of internationally recognized election observer groups, in essence, our administration left no one in doubt as we were resolved to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections which will be a watershed for the conduct of future elections.

“It is gratifying to note that the conduct and the outcome of the elections which commenced with that of the National Assembly was adjudged to be credible by both local and foreign observers as well as the generality of Nigerians.             .

“The presidential elections recorded a substantial improvement as attested to by all the stakeholders, consequently, there was clearly a renewed hope in the capability of our democratic process to midwife generally free and credible elections devoid of rancour and recriminations for the first time”, he said.

Although he noted that peace has returned to all parts of the country, he however insisted that he would ensure that the laws of the land would apply to those who violate it and gave them six weeks to submit their report.

Members sworn in yesterday are Sheikh Ahmed Lemu (Chairman), Justice Samson Uwaifo (Vice Chairman) F.F

Ogunshakin (Secretary) while Reverend Farther Idowu Feron,  Alhaji Muhammadu Danmadami, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Mrs. Lateef Okunnu, M.B. Wali and Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agari are members.

Other members are President of Trade union Congress of  Nigeria, Comrade Peter Esele, Alhaji Muhamed Ibrahim, Professor Femi Odekunle, President General of Ohaneze  Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, Alhaji Bukar Usman, Sheikh Adam Idoko, Major General Mohammed Said (rtd.),  Barrister P.C. Okorie, Arc. Shamsuna Ahmed, Major General L.P. Ngubane, Alhaji Sani Maikudi, Rear Admiral I. Hotonu, and Ogungbemi Idowu Damilola who is a member of the National Youths service Corps.

The panel has the following terms of reference:

• investigate the immediate and remote cause(s) of the pre-election violence in Akwa Ibom State as well as the tide of unrest in some States of the Federation following the Presidential election and make appropriate recommendations on how to prevent future occurrence;

• ascertain the number of persons who lost their lives or sustained injuries during the violence;

• identify the spread and extent of loss and damage to means of livelihood and assess the cost of damage to personal and public properties and places of worship and make appropriate recommendations;

• investigate the sources of weapons used in the unrest and recommend how to stem the tide of illegal flow of such weapons to the country;

• examine any other matter incidental or relevant to the unrest and advise Government as appropriate.

At a reception in Abuja to mark the Europe Day, where Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia appraised economic and political relations between the regional block and Nigeria, the EU head of delegation to Nigeria, Ambassador David McRae, also spoke about the need to continue the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

McRae stated: “Violence has no place in a modern democracy. We condemn those responsible for the despicable acts of savagery and urge the culprits to be brought to justice. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

This would be the third time after initial statements of condemnation, that the EU would make calls for perpetrators of violence and killings in the election to be brought to justice, a subtle indication that the regional block might not be impressed by the way the matter is being treated.

Paying tribute to the slain youth corps members, MacRae had said in the Monday night commemoration to the diplomatic community and Nigerian government representatives: “I want also to recognise the role played by members of the National Youth Service Corps which was magnificent. We admire their enthusiasm, their professionalism and commitment to the task.  They contributed greatly to the success of the elections. The loss of life of some of them carrying out their duty is shocking, as is the terrible violence that erupted just after the presidential election.

He reflected on the four cardinal policy planks, which the Jonathan administration pledged to work on after being sworn in as president  —  anti-corruption, Niger Delta and electricity.

On corruption, he noted that the EU had been a major financier of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and would continue to support this and other anti-corruption agencies.

But he also stressed that the fight against corruption must be “a continuous process but essential for the good of Nigeria.”

In this regard, he pointed out further that “the EU and Nigeria are partners. We are working together already in many areas. And we can do much more together… When we look back at what has been achieved over this last year, we can see clear signs of progress.  We need to build on these towards better governance through which will come better economic performance and social development to all the country.”

He said the Niger Delta region was a focal area for EU co-operation with Nigeria and “we are working closely with government and the core Niger Delta states on the preparation of a support programme.”

-Guardian

Posted by admin on May 12 2011. Filed under Headlines, Nigerian Police. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry