Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Kwara raises task force to check political violence

By Abiodun Fagbemi Ilorin and Gordi Udeajah Umuahia
11 February 2015   |   7:52 pm
• APGA guber candidate petitions IG over shooting allegation   WORRIED by the upsurge in cases of political violence in Kwara State, the State Security Council has constituted a special task force to stem the scourge.     Rising from the emergency meeting of the council convened by the state Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed Wednesday…

GOV-AHMED

• APGA guber candidate petitions IG over shooting allegation  

WORRIED by the upsurge in cases of political violence in Kwara State, the State Security Council has constituted a special task force to stem the scourge.

    Rising from the emergency meeting of the council convened by the state Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed Wednesday in Ilorin, the body said the measure among others would engender peace in the state before, during and after the general elections.

     Emir of Ilorin who is also the Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and Special Adviser on Security Matter to the Governor, Mr. C. P. Ashafa were also at the meeting.

     Addressing reporters over the theme of the meeting, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sola Gold said, “The meeting reviewed the current security situation in the state and came out with fresh resolutions to ensure the protection of lives and property as well as promote public order.

    “Council observed with concern the security challenges created by the increasing incidents of political related violence in the state as we approach the general elections, and expressed the need to take urgent action to stem the tide through several targeted measures.”

    Meanwhile, the Campaign Organization of All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate in Abia State Dr. Alex Otti has petitioned the Inspector General of Police urging him to investigate the invasion of Otti’s house by men in military uniform and the case of the alleged shooting of a state legislator, who is also the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Isiala Ngwa constituency, Mr. Darlington Nwokocha on Saturday February 7.

    They wondered why Otti should be accused of authorizing the shooting of Nwokocha when they  (Otti and Nwokocha) have nothing in contention, be it politically or economically even as they called for the evidence of the shooting by letting the public know which hospital or doctor that treated the said Nwokocha and the injury he sustained from the alleged shooting.

    The petition letter to the IGP, which was signed and read out to journalists with copies by Otti’s Director of Special Duties Chief Nwaka Inem and captioned “who is afraid of Alex Otti. An open letter to the Inspector General of Police”, recalled that the state Information Commissioner Chief Anthony Agbazuere had last week accused Otti of keeping a standing army on uniform as guards.

    The Campaign Organization told the IGP in the letter that the PDP has turned governorship election in the state into a war without a cause hence the life of their candidate  (Otti), is now under grave threat. 

    The Kwara SSG added, “Council directed the establishment of a Special Task Force to curb thuggery and other politically related violence in the state.”

 The candidates of the political parties for the forth-coming polls were recently made to sign a peace pact by the state’s Police Commissioner, Salihu Garba. But it appears the exercise had not yielded the desired results”

The meeting according to him resolved that the state government should sustain its policy of zero tolerance for thuggery and other political related violence in the state.

Besides, he disclosed that the Police have been directed to prosecute all pending cases of thuggery to serve as a deterrent to others and to reassure the public of government’s readiness to uphold public order.

The meeting also recommended that all candidates for elective posts should sign a covenant with security agencies to maintain peace and order before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

He added, “council noted that those who perpetrate thuggery and other forms of political violence often organise these illegal activities in hotels and similar establishments.

“While stemming the proliferation of illegal arms in the state, council recommended that the state government and law enforcement agencies should engage with owners and operators of hotels to ensure vigilance and scrutinize lodgers in order to prevent the use of such premises for planning criminal activities.”

 Meanwhile, the Campaign Organization of All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate in Abia State Dr. Alex Otti, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police urging him to investigate the invasion of Otti’s house by men in military uniform and the case of the alleged shooting of a state legislator, who is also the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Isiala Ngwa constituency, Mr. Darlington Nwokocha on Saturday February 7.

They wondered why Otti should be accused of authorizing the shooting of Nwokocha when they  (Otti and Nwokocha) have nothing in contention, be it politically or economically even as they called for the evidence of the shooting by letting the public know which hospital or doctor that treated the said Nwokocha and the injury he sustained from the alleged shooting.

The petition letter to the IGP, which was signed and read out to journalists with copies by Otti’s Director of Special Duties Chief Nwaka Inem and captioned “ who is afraid of Alex Otti. An open letter to the Inspector General of Police”, recalled that the state Information Commissioner Chief Anthony Agbazuere had last week accused Otti of keeping a standing army on uniform as guards.

The Campaign Organization told the IGP in the letter that the PDP has turned governorship election in the state into a war without a cause hence the life of their candidate  (Otti), is now under grave threat.

0 Comments