Fresh Delta Killings: Police Commission Wants Sanctions On Imo, Delta CPs
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has called for sanctions against the Police Commissioners in Imo and Delta States over the recent killings of some police officers.
This is as the Commission specifically noted that the killings in some states of the federation have become worrisome and urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to review the capacity of some Police Commissioners handling State commands of the Force.
The Commission’s demand comes on the heels of about six Police officers losing their lives a few days ago in an ambush around Ohoro Forest, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta, with six others declared missing in action.
Similarly, two policemen attached to MOPOL 18, Owerri, Imo State, were on Saturday killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
According to reports, the assailants threw dynamite at the police patrol van which carried the now-deceased officers in the Okigwe area of the state.
The Chairman of PSC, Solomon Arase, who reacted to the unfortunate incidents, said punishing the two Police bosses would serve as a deterrent for others who may be found wanting in the future.
In a statement signed on his behalf by the Commission’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC Chairman strongly condemned the new wave of killings of police officers on official duties, stressing that these officers are also Nigerians who deserve the support, encouragement, and protection of the citizens.
Arase said there must be consequences for what he described as “avoidable incidents”, stressing that any State CP found incompetent, derelict, and operationally or tactically porous should be eased out to avoid these huge police casualties.
The PSC boss, a retired IGP, further said; “I wish to commiserate with the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun on these unfortunate developments, especially at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck to rid the nation of militancy and banditry. We have had more than a fair share of these ugly developments in recent times. I hereby call for integrated intelligence policing”.
Ani quoted the PSC chairman as also commiserating with the families of the slain officers, noting time has come for State Command Commissioners to rise to the occasion, even as he tasked serving officers not to be demotivated by the ugly developments but to reenact their indomitable fighting spirit that the force is known for to ward-off the new wave of assaults.
