Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Wednesday disclosed that not less than 3,000 suspected kidnappers have so far been arrested across the country.
Idris who stated this during the monthly Commissioners of Police (CPs) conference in Abuja, expressed support for the recently passed anti-kidnapping bill by the National Assembly.
“Between 2,000 and 3,000 suspects have been arrested in connection with kidnapping across the country,” he said.
Idris who frowned at the rising cases of abduction of police officers, threatened to hold Commissioner of Police responsible for the kidnap of officers.
“CPs should impose it on DPOs to deploy their men to flashpoints. Kidnapping of Police officers is becoming an embarrassment, you cannot move any how as an officer.
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“Police officers should be careful about their personal safety and movements. CPs will be vicariously liable for any officer kidnapped in his command like fowls. Be very serious on the protection of DPOs and heads of formations in their commands,” he said.
He therefore charged CPs to view seriously issues of illegal deployment of police’s special units, especially Police Mobile Force (PMF).
“All CP commands must address the issue of illegal deployment of special units; conduct physical assessment of deployment of special units, PMF, to ensure that all those special units deployed, which is not in consonance with the Force, should stop forthwith.
“We are going to have absolute control of our men, who we deploy. Anywhere you observe, as a CP, the PMF personnel were deployed illegally, it is your responsibility to act,” Idris charged.
As part of measures to alleviate the plights of families of deceased officers, the police said a total of N3.75 billion had been released as death benefits. It was disclosed that a total of 1,285 next-of-kins of deceased personnel, had been screened for payments.
While speaking on the forthcoming Anambra State gubernatorial election, Idris assured of massive deployment of men and materials for the November 18 Anambra Gubernatorial election.
He also directed the involvement of the 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which he said would bring about peaceful and credible election.
“We are going to strategise on how to conduct the election peacefully. It (poll) will involve all the commands; it’s going to be a massive deployment.
“I believe it is too close, it is very important for us to prepare adequately,” the police chief declared.
STELLA ENENCHE, Abuja
