The threat from the high command of the Nigerian Police over the admission from it`s own officer regarding the Nigerian Army`s complicity in the kidnappings and criminalities in the South East is worrisome, and must be condemned.
The recent press release by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, as well as the one by the Army`s Director of Army Public Relations over Fulani soldiers and headers conspiracy are both strange and sources of bothersome concern.
What to make of both official responses from the police and the army cannot be anything short of threat and attempt to stifle truthful information about the decay dangerously prevailing in the system.
We would recall that the Prelate of the Methodist church who was kidnapped by the Fulani Headers in Abia State over the weekend gave his account after release from the kidnapper`s donjon.
Following his release upon payment of a whopping sum of 100 million to the Fulani headers responsible for their kidnapping, there were disclosures by the priest about strong likelihood of a conspiracy between these kidnappers and the soldiers in the area.
These disclosures were swiftly dismissed by the military authority through a statement by the Army`s Director of Army Public Relations, which referred to the disclosures by the priest as “weighty allegation”.
However, the same Nigerian Army had earlier in April, just about a month ago admitted of this complicity by it`s own soldiers. This admission was made by no other person than the Army`s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor, who said:
“Recent happenings in various TOOs reveal an increase in cases of aiding and abetting by personnel. This development was revealed in different reports of arrests of military personnel within a short period of time,” “It would be recalled that a soldier was arrested by a covert intelligence Team for conniving with a confirmed terrorist informant known as Babagana Kura in Bama LGA, Borno State.
“The arrests of these personnel are indicative of inside action that has continued to aid the adversary, pertinently with immediate or potential impact on operations.”
The said letter was reported on the 4th April and was signed on behalf of the Chief of Defense Staff by C.E Oji.
It is therefore a somersault for the same Army to now try to turn logic on its head as it embarrassingly tries to deflect attention from this very obvious facts disclosed by the Methodist Prelate.
As if this is not enough, an officer of the Army`s sister agency – the Nigerian Police has also come out to squarely admit the very well-known fact that the Army is aiding and abetting the Fulani headers in their criminal enterprise in the South East.
A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Johnbull, is the latest to corroborate the very damaging reality of the country`s security agencies. He made this confirmation yet again, while addressing some protesters in the same Abia State following the Methodist Prelate experience and his account of it.
The officer while speaking in the Oji area of the state corroborated the Prelate`s account that the Fulani headers are responsible for the kidnappings in Isuochi in Umenneochi Local Government Area of the State.
He also dropped his own blame on the Nigerian Army personnel in the area, while also disclosing how and where these criminal headers share and spend their criminal proceeds.
With all this admissions and available intelligence, it would therefore bit the imagination of any sane person why these criminal elements still run free and operate almost unhindered.
There can only be one possible explanation to this very painful reality – that is the fact they have high-level patronage for their criminal enterprise. These waves of Fulani kidnappers are no doubt protected by those whose duty it is to flush them out – the Army, Police, DSS and their sister agencies.
Notwithstanding all these obvious trails of complicity, the Police authority had the effrontery and audacity to come out to issue threat to the CSP Johnbull for these damaging disclosures that has further corroborated the account of the Prelate of the Methodist church.
In a statement on Thursday, the police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did only deny and disassociate the police from the comments made by the CSP Johnbull, they went further to threaten him with “disciplinary procedures”.
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video making the rounds in some sections of the media where a Chief Superintendent of Police of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), attached to the Abia State Police Command, while on special duty at Umunneochi L.G.A of the state following the kidnap of some members of the community on Sunday 29th May 2022, was seen addressing a crowd in an unapproved and unprofessional manner by attacking a particular ethnic group and casting aspersions on other security agencies.
“It is pertinent to state that the officer was at the location to carry out a rescue operation led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police. He had no locus standi to address the press or any group of persons, as such is the sole responsibility of the Commissioner of Police, and the Police Public Relations Officer, or at least his superior in rank who was also at the scene.
“His impetuous and unguarded statements expressly contradict salient provisions of the Social Media Policy, Police Act and Regulations, and Code of Conduct for Police Officers, as well as extant laws regulating the conduct and activities of police officers. The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the unguarded utterances of the individual do not represent the principles, ideals, position, and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force, and therefore dissociates itself in its entirety.
“The Inspector-General of Police acknowledges and will continually appreciate the robust synergy enjoyed over time from the military and other security agencies in maintaining the internal security, even as he assured that the erring officer will face the disciplinary procedures of the Force for his unguarded indiscretions. He equally restated the commitment of his administration to ensuring all and sundry have access to policing services without sentimental colourations”.
With all these attempt from the authorities to stifle the flow of information about the truth regarding the complicity of the security agencies, it suggests therefore, that the system may have decayed even worse than was thought. This is very worrisome and portends great for the country.
