IG Orders Manhunt For Killers Of 12 Policemen

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar has ordered a massive manhunt for the killers of the policemen in Bayelsa State. Abubakar gave the directive during a media briefing by the Force spokesman, Mr Frank Mba where he said the legacy he would bequeath to the slain officers would be to find their killers.

About 12 policemen were last week killed along the waterway in Azuzama community in Southern Ijaw area of the Bayelsa State on their way to the burial ceremony of the mother of an ex-militant leader and special assistant to the Bayelsa state governor on marine security.

Two separate groups, Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, and General Jasper Adaka Boro Jnr, led group had earlier claimed responsibility for the death of the policemen.

While addressing journalists yesterday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP, said the incident had once again brought to the fore the dangers faced by security operatives in the discharge of their duties.

“The entire Nigeria Police is sad with the unprovoked killing of 12 policemen in Bayelsa State while performing their legitimate duties.

Their death is a sad reminder of constant dangers police are facing daily in protecting the country, citizens and the commonwealth. The best post-humous honour to give to these heroes is to find their

killers and bring them to book”, the police boss said.

Abubakar said the force would stop at nothing until the killers are found, and therefore ordered police investigative team to ensure that they are arrested and punished within the shortest period of time.

Worried by the incessant killing of policemen and officers in the course of their duties, Mba disclosed that the police high command has devised a new standard and strategies aimed at reducing the fatality

suffer by the police while on national assignment.

Although the police boss did not disclose the new standard, he insisted that very soon, the incessant killings of policemen on duty would be a thing of the past.

“Nigeria is currently facing one of its most challenging moments. The time is short. The race against crime is tight and the challenges of crimes are enormous. But my message of hope to Nigerians is that with the co-operation of other security agents and kind-hearted Nigerians, the current crime waves will soon fizzle out,” he said.

Reacting to the question on the investigation so far on the death of former commissioner of police (CP), Kwara State, Asadu Chinwike, Abubakar said to guard against jeopardising the investigation the police would not yet reveal how far they have gone in the case, but insisted that the force had made tremendous progress.

Meanwhile, there were signs of fear and panic among the fold of ex-militant leaders in Bayelsa State following the killing of 12 policemen by some ex-militant youths over alleged case of illegal deductions from their monthly amnesty allowances by their leader, Comrade Kile Selky Torughedi.

LEADERSHIP gathered yesterday that known ex-militant leaders including Comrade Eris Paul popularly known as Ogunboss,  Dr Ebikabowei Victor-Ben known as Boyloaf, Mr Pastor Reuben Wilson known as General Pastor and many others have increased the numbers of armed security around them to forestall any attack.

Pastor Reuben Wilson, who spoke to LEADERSHIP yesterday on the development, said though the killing of the policemen was a dastardly act, the killing could happen to any ex-militant leader in the state.

-----Chika Otuchikere and Osa Okhomina, Leadership Nigeria