Ibrahim Idris, inspector general of police (IGP) has
expressed sadness over the kidnapping of policemen
in the country, describing it as “very embarrassing and
annoying”.
Amos Aliyu, a divisional police officer (DPO), was
abducted by unknown gunmen in Munya local
government area of Niger state, alongside his orderly.
Before the Niger incident, Emmanuel Adeniyi, an
assistant commissioner of police, was kidnapped in
Kaduna state, although he was later rescued.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with
commissioners of police and other senior officers in
Abuja, Idris told the police officers that they would be
held responsible should anything happen to any
policeman under them.
He urged police officers to always protect themselves,
saying: “You can only protect others when you are
protected because you are a target.
“There should be more visibility policing. Policemen
should be deployed in flashpoint areas to take care of
security because the presence of police in those areas
would help in the reduction of crime,” he said.
“We must take the protection of our officers seriously.
We have a problem; two days ago, one of our DPOs
was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you have all
the policemen under your command and then you start
driving as if you don’t have anybody.
“You allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and
your orderly, it is very embarrassing. We had the same
issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going on leave
travelled alone. It is embarrassing.
“The information we are receiving is that our ACP’s
vehicle was abandoned in a bush and he has not been
seen which obviously means that he has been
kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation?
It is becoming an embarrassment. DPOs and other
personnel should be careful of their movement.
“Our officers have to be concerned about their
personal safety first because this issue is becoming
an embarrassment. CPs would also be vicariously
liable for any policeman that is just picked up like a
fowl or anything, it is very annoying.”
TheCable
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