The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has disclosed that efforts of the men of the Nigeria Police Force have led to the arrest of a total of 1,151 high-profile crime suspects across the country between September and October, this year.
The police boss gave this revelation while speaking at a meeting he held with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, ahead of the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections, stressing that the police under his watch would “continually emplace strategies that are potent enough to deal with the emerging trends of crime”.
The police chief also disclosed that within the period, 228 firearms of various descriptions and calibres were recovered, even as he admonished political actors in Bayelsa and Kogi State to be mindful of their actions ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in the two states. He warned that anybody found to have taken actions that breach the peace would be sanctioned by the police.
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Adamu said that out of the total number of suspects arrested, 470 were armed robbery suspects; 216 kidnap suspects,335 suspected cultists, and 130 were murder suspects.
“Aside from this, 231 kidnapped victims have been safely rescued and reunited with their families while 75 stolen vehicles were also recovered from criminal elements,” he also revealed.
“We are determined to attain this mandate within the dictates of the rule of law, uncompromising respect for human rights, and best global policing practices,” he said.
The IGP, who declared the meeting open, also noted that the national crime profile of the country had continued to decline in relation to the previous quarters. This trend, he said, was indicative of the effectiveness of policing strategies which are based on community partnership practices, application of cutting-edge policing technologies and crime management solutions, the engagement and integration of intelligence-led policing standards to the Police functions at all operational and investigative levels, and an enhanced inter-agency collaboration orientation.
“In furtherance to these, the trust gap between the citizens and the Police has been significantly narrowed and the bond to fight and reclaim our communities from the criminals who are our common enemies has been strengthened. In addition, the commitment and capacity of the Nigeria Police to re-dominate the public space and deny criminals the liberty to manifest their heinous crimes has been appreciably boosted.
“In consequence, between August 2019 to date, a total of 1,151 high profile suspects have been arrested nationwide. These include 470 armed robbery suspects; 216 kidnap suspects,335 suspected cultists, and 130 murder suspects,” he explained.
“Furthermore, 228 firearms of various descriptions and calibre were recovered in various police operations across the country within the same period. Aside from this,231 kidnapped victims have been safely rescued and reunited with their families while 75 stolen vehicles were also recovered from criminal elements.”
“The Nigeria Police under our watch, will not only continually emplace strategies that are potent enough to deal with the emerging trends of crime, but we are also determined to attain this mandate within the dictates of rule of law, uncompromising respect for human rights, and best global policing practices. In this regard, it will be recalled that I have at various fora confirmed our determination to adopt less-lethal approaches and equipment in our policing duties.
“It is in furtherance to this that I initiated actions towards the acquisition and deployment of electro-muscular disruption technology-based weaponry which is commonly known as Taser or Stun Guns for low-risk police operations.
“This is with the intention of addressing public concerns on the misuse of firearms by the Police with its attendant consequences on lives and effect on the attainment of our community policing vision,” he explained.
He disclosed that a special training was being organised for the Special Units of the Police, including the Police Mobile Force, Special Forces, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Anti-Robbery detachments, Anti-Kidnapping Squads and the Criminal Investigation Operatives.
“This is with the intention of equipping them with the right orientation for policing in the 21st Century and to align their operations within the expectations of the law and the citizens,” he explained.
He said that the police would keep to the standards of democratic policing, which is hinged on the protection of fundamental human rights. He added that it was considered expedient that Force Order 237 which defines the Rules of Engagement (RoE) be reviewed, standardised and simplified.
The IGP later launched the Revised Force Order 237 (RFO) which, he noted, was not only comprehensive and modernised but simplified for ease of comprehension by all members of the Force.
