IGP talks tough on inter-state movement restriction

Police arrest 30 over death of 100 in Adamawa communal clash
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered strict enforcement of the national curfew and inter-state movement restriction emplaced by the Federal Government as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

The IGP gave this directive to the zonal Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) of Police and Commissioners of Police (CPs) during a virtual conference yesterday.

In a statement by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba, the conference availed the police leadership the opportunity to engage the strategic managers, assess the security situation in the country, review operational strategies and take decisive measures aimed at evolving customised security solutions to cope with crime trends and other security challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While evaluating security reports from various state commands, the police boss charged the CPs, particularly in states with recent attacks, to rejig their security architecture to forestall further attacks and keep the communities safe for the citizenry.

Calling for mutual respect between the public and the police, he charged the strategic managers to place more premium on the supervision of police personnel under their watch.

The virtual conference is the first by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

Meanwhile, Adamawa State police command has arrested over 30 suspects in connection with the recent communal clash that claimed over 100 lives in Tingno Community, Lamurde Council of the state.

The suspects were said to be helping the police with information to arrest other perpetrators now at large.

The victims of last Thursday’s attack were mainly women and children now taking refuge at the makeshift Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Kupte Community.

Our Correspondent gathered from the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Suleiman Nguoroje, that “more than 30 suspects have been arrested, while investigation is ongoing to ensure that normalcy returns to the community.”

Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, in the wake of the crisis, ordered the immediate evacuation of the survivors to a safer environment – the temporary Kupte Camp in Lafiya Ward.

Speaking with our reporter, the councillor representing Lafiya Ward, Abubakar Yahaya, thanked Fintiri for his swift intervention, citing lack of shelter and beds as challenges facing the displaced persons.

A victim of the clash, Margaret Obidah, while narrating her ordeal, called on the government to take adequate measures to help her and others return to Tingno and resume their normal lives.

Obidah, a nurse at the makeshift clinic in Kupte Camp, explained that over 100 of the 978 registered IDPs had fallen sick, stressing that children were more vulnerable in such situations.

She urged government and well-meaning individuals to donate to the clinic and help the medical team perform its duties effectively.

Amidst the call by Governor Fintiri on the people to sheathe their swords for peaceful coexistence, the government last week imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde.