Group wants IGP sacked for sending cops against B'Haram in a suicide mission

Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities for the Atiku Agenda (CENTAA) has condemned the invitation of the police to battle Boko Haram insurgence, and demanded the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

CENTAA said that drafting policemen against insurgents in the North East was not only unconstitutional, it amounted to sending them on a suicide mission for which they lacked the training, equipment and capacity.

The National President of the group, Mr. Adeoye Jolaosho, noted that police all over the world were trained to tackle civil matters and maintain law and order of their respective countries

“Police are never thrown into participating in or defending their country in a war situation,” CENTAA said, noting that it was against their training.

The group said that police would only be brought in to restore law and order in territories conquered and reclaimed from Boko Haram by the Nigerian Army, and not to be involved in the thick of battle against the insurgents.

According to CENTAA, it was clear that the motive behind sending policemen on such assignment was for pecuniary benefits to the IGP and his other officers, who stood to gain from the special budgets and allowances that would be specially accruing from such a mission.

Reports said 121 of 167 officers who absconded from the assignment had been sacked by the police, an action that CENTAA condemned and called for its immediate reversal.

“We are calling on the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to order the IGP to reinstate the affected personnel that he unlawfully sacked,” Jolaosho said. “In fact, the shoe should be on the other foot. The police authorities acted illegally and unconstitutionally and have no case against these sacked officers.”

CENTAA said that Idris had outlived his days in the police force and only a hidden agenda would make Mr. President retain him as IGP.

Jolaosho said: “We advise the President to put the country first and forget about whatever dirty role he might have designated for the IGP to play in the manipulation of the 2019 general elections. He must be allowed to go on January 3 when his time will be up for retirement.”