The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has warned that state Commissioners of Police (CPs) should ensure that state governments did not equip militia and vigilante groups.
Idris who made this known in Abuja during monthly meeting with CPs, noted that arming vigilante and militias was against the law prohibiting firearms.
He also directed the Commissioners of Police to monitor the activities of state governments towards the 2019 elections. He added that, “Everybody is aware that we are entering a tedious and serious period in this country. The political issues are coming up to the fore and I believe that as officers, we must gear up in our various locations and responsibilities to ensure that we ensure law and order all over Nigeria.
“As police officers, we know our duties. We know some issues that must be considered very seriously, because we are coming into a political arena. “Commands should be very conversant with arming of militia men or vigilante, because before a vigilante group is established by a government, there must be a by-law, which must be passed by the House of Assembly.
“It is the responsibility of the Commissioners of Police in charge of Commands to study the by-law and see how it conforms with the constitution and other laws of this country. But, where through the connivance of some Police officers, you have a command arming militia men, I think our officers have to brace up to face these challenges.”
He also said: “No government in this country has the responsibility to approve some prohibited firearms to any Nigerian under any guise.
“I think it is the responsibility of CPs of Commands to keep a close watch to the activities of some of these governments that are arming individuals which is against the laws of this country.
“All of us are aware of these prohibited firearms. You cannot give approval for any individual to own a pistol or AK47 rifles. These are prohibited weapons and only the government has the authority to give that approval.
“I call on CPs of various Commands to closely watch the abuse of authority at various levels,” he said.
Commenting on killings in Nasarawa and Benue states, and the impact of his relocation, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Idris said the killings have reduced drastically.
He said, “To be frank, I relocated to Benue for about eight days and when I came back, I left the DIG Operations there. I must say that the incidences in Benue State and Nasarawa State have reduced drastically”.
He added that,”We had an attack on some travellers in Gboko town, in Benue, where seven Fulani people were murdered.
