IG orders probe of violence at Rivers APC rally

We are investigating incident, says DSS

IN response to the shooting incident that disrupted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally and a policeman died with many others injured in Okrika, Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered full-scale investigation into the incident.

    The IGP also directed that the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 Calabar to head the investigation and ensure that all the persons found culpable are brought to justice.

    A statement Wednesday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Emmanuel Ojukwu said the IGP Suleiman Abba while noting “with grave concern that despite serious warnings, advices and interfaces with political actors to avoid acts of violence in the ongoing electoral process, such acts have continued.”

    Recall that the Police boss had order the “Command Commissioners of Police to embark on intensive recovery of fire arms in the possession of unauthorized security outfits/Agencies” and “to ensure that suspects arrested in connection with it are given speedy prosecution at law courts.”

    Meanwhile, the Department of State Service (DSS) also yesterday said it has commenced investigation into the shooting incident. The DSS also said that it would not wait for people with questionable characters to disrupt the forthcoming general elections; hence, it would take them in before the polls.

    Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar speaking to newsmen in Abuja said; “We are investigating it, that is why we are saying, if you have observed that there is a new face, unexplained movement of person or people you don’t know, sudden business concern cropping up around you, you need to alert security agencies, so, we are definitely investigating it. 

   “And of course far beyond that, there is profiling of those whose presence in certain areas cannot be easily and immediately explained. So, may be on the election day, one group will get up and someone supportive has been whisked away, we have profiled people with questionable character and just before election they are taken in.”

   Also condemning the incident, a civil society organization, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has blamed failure of security intelligence and/or conspiracy of silence on the part of leadership of the Nigerian security agencies for the upsurge in politically motivated violence during political campaigns. It therefore called for the immediate suspension of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police and his counterpart in the State Security Services [State Director of DSS] for their collective failure to nip in the bud the series of bloody attacks targeted against campaigners belonging to both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress [APC]. 

HURIWA stated that the persistent and near-official acceptance of official incompetence and consistent show of shame by security chiefs in Nigeria has resulted in the spiralling violence and organised crimes being perpetrated by undesirable elements without the security agencies doing anything to check the growing menace. ‘’We believe that State commissioners of police and their counterparts in the Department of State Security [DSS] must be made to take responsible and account for any breach of peace and break down of law and order in the areas of jurisdiction. The principle of accountability and transparency demands that the persons on whose tables the bulks stop must account for any failure that occur on grand scale in their areas of jurisdiction”.

    The FPRO said, “The IG has directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Johnson Tunde Ogunshakin to take over the investigation and promptly bring to book all the perpetrators, conspirators and sponsors. He further directed a judicious prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with violence across the country.”

     The police helmsman while lamenting the death of the Police officer that was killed in the melee, “deeply regretted the loss of lives of policemen in the course of providing safety in the electoral process.

    “His heart went out to the families of the slain colleagues as he wished the injured officers speedy recovery and return to national duty.”

    He restated the resolve and commitment of the Police Force, and in line with its constitutional and statutory mandate, to continue to provide an impartial level playing ground for all political parties to sell their manifestoes and woo the electorate.