IG orders investigation, arrest of Arewa group members over Igbo threat

The group on June 6, at a news conference in Kaduna, gave a three-month ultimatum to Igbos living in the orth to leave. It also advised northerners living in the South Eastern part of the country to return to the north. The group attributed the ultimatum to the constant agitation by the Igbo ethnic group to have their own independent country. Gov. Nasir El’ Rufai of Kaduna State had earlier ordered the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the signatories to the communique issued at the end of the coalition of northern youth news conference. The police I-G gave the order at a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other high ranking officers on Thursday in Abuja. He warned that no individual or group of persons had the right to ask any individual to leave his or her place of residence in any part of the country. He ordered other state commissioners of police in the North and Assistant Inspectors -General of Police in the various zonal commands to do same. “As Commissioners of Police and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, we have the responsibility to stop this group of persons from carrying out their threats. “I want us to be at alert to ensure that such persons or group are stopped at all cost from carrying out their threats. “No individual has the authority to stop anybody from looking for his daily bread,” he said. He explained that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live in any part of the country he or she chooses. On abuse of siren and spy number plate by unauthourised persons, Mr. Idris said a task force would be constituted across the country to check the situation. He said some individuals used them to commit crimes. “We are going to check the excesses of these individuals who use siren and spy number plate,“he said. The police boss urged the various commands to beef up security in their formations as security challenges were taking different dimensions. He said the force had started the establishment of some operational units in the commands across the country to tackle emerging security challenges. He added that “we are facing new security challenges in the country and we have to respond to it. “We are trying to enhance our capacity with the establishment of these units, taking into consideration the new security challenges in the country,” he said. Mr. Idris urged state governors to support the force by establishing these units for effective response to security threats across the country. On the kidnapped six students from the Igbonla Model College, Epe area of Lagos, Mr. Idris said that police marine would be trained to flood the creeks. He expressed concern with the citing of schools close to the sea where miscreants always have easy access to such schools. “We are going to have a permanent solution to the Lagos problem by training our marine police,” he said. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, said rescue mission was ongoing to save the children. He explained that the police was concerned about the safety of the children in trying to rescue them. (NAN) ]]>