IG Orders Tight Security Around Govt Warehouses Nationwide

*Says Arrest 5,328 suspects, recover 639 firearms

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered Commissioners of Police in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure tight security around government warehouses across the country.
He said the measure was designed to prevent a repeat of the looting of a government warehouse in Adamawa State by people protesting the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant fuel price hike.
The IG, who spoke in Abuja at a meeting with Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police in the 36 States and FCT also charged the police chiefs to ensure adequate security in the nation’s borders in view of the coup crisis in Niger.
“All state commissioners of police were tasked to emplace round-the-clock security at all government warehouses as well as strategic storage facilities to prevent a repeat of the incidence at Adamawa State.
“Assuring that the force is poised to provide all necessary support to the federal government as it seeks workable solutions and succor to the present economic situation in the country, and following the recent events in the ECOWAS sub-region, the IGP charged the strategic police managers to ensure the maintenance of stability along the borderlines”, he said.
The IG similarly disclosed the salient achievements recorded within the space of one and a half month of his assumption of office as a result of the deployment of a series of covert and overt operations targeted at smashing criminal gangs terrorising communities all over the country.
“This has led to the arrest of a total of 986 armed robbery suspects, 390 kidnap suspects including bandits, 848 suspects of homicide, 297 suspects for possession of prohibited firearms, 517 suspects of rape, defilement and other sexual offences, 874 suspected cultists, and 5,328 suspects for various other offences.
“Similarly, a total of 639 firearms of various calibres including AK47 and other assault rifles, 4,441 assorted ammunition, and 266 stolen vehicles were recovered nationwide while a total of 363 kidnap victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families and loved ones”, he said.