Police arrest 38 bandits, recover 32 AK-47 rifles, others
*IGP lauds 'Operation Sahara Storm' in Sokoto. *Tasks police managers on intelligence-driven policing
By Paul Michael, Defence Editor, Abuja
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has said the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has between 20th and 29th January, 2022, arrested a total of 38 suspected bandits and terrorists while 32 AK-47 rifles, one Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher, 1,412 7.62mm live ammunition and 1,200 rounds of live AA ammunition were recovered.
The IGP stated this on Thursday during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers – Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police and the Force Management Team – at the newly upgraded IGP’s Smart Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja. Adding that camps and other assets of the bandits in the criminal enclaves were also destroyed.
He commended the massive successes of “Operation Sahara Storm” and its significant achievements in bandits’ enclaves within Illela, Rabbah and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.
In a statement by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP listed other recovered materials to include one locally fabricated revolver pistol, three motor vehicles, two motorcycles, ten cartons of Pentazocine BP 30 Injections, cash sum of N800,000.00 and three pairs of Army camouflage uniform.
According to him, the IGP “lauded the significant progress in the Police anti-crime operations nationwide leading to a downward trend in the frequency of major crimes across the country” and “attributed it to the individual and collective sacrifices, professionalism and enhanced operational efficiency cum efficacy of his administration’s current strategies.”
He further revealed that, “The IGP noted that aside ‘Operation Sahara Storm’, crimes statistics between January, 2022 till date, revealed that thirty-six (36) terror elements, seventy-eight (78) murder suspects, one hundred and ten (110) armed robbery suspects, fifty (50) kidnapers and one hundred and fifty (150) cultists were arrested during various police operations across the country.
“Equally, two hundred and four (204) kidnapped victims were successfully rescued, while one hundred and fifty-five (155) firearms of various descriptions and one thousand, five hundred and sixty-one (1,561) live ammunition were also recovered.”
IGP Baba while addressing the Police managers at the meeting which was aimed at reviewing the country’s internal security and re-evaluating strategies to advance the Police mandate of providing public safety for all and sundry in Nigeria, tasked them on the need to engage in intelligence driven policing to curb crime in the country.
While commenting on the upcoming 2023 general elections, the IGP affirmed the commitment of the Force leadership not to only deal with politically related infractions that could ensue, but also with preparations ahead to guarantee the security and credibility of the elections.
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The IGP assured that the Force will engage all officers in activities that will fully prepare them for the effective performance of policing roles in the elections while saying that it will maintain a close working relationship with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Nigeria Police Legal Chamber towards dissecting the provisions of the Electoral Act as recently amended. This, he said, is with a view to ensuring that all policing activities are in tandem with the amended Electoral Act 2022.
The IGP reemphasized that while Stop and Search strategy could occasionally be an invaluable anti-crime tactic, such should not be done without requisite approval, must not be a permanent strategy and must equally be conducted with extant police protocols which emphasizes civility to members of the public with the highest level of professional decorum.
“Strategic Police Managers were charged to review this tactic and ensure their operations conform strictly with the IGP’s policing vision,” CSP Adejobi said.
While soliciting the continued understanding and support of Nigerians, the IGP reassured of his commitment to the police reform project, with assurances to continually provide responsible and responsive leadership that will address the fears of crimes and engender seamless police and citizens’ partnership in the fight against crimes in the country.
