Security
Benue kinsmen put pressure on IGP to order release of Police killed in Anambra communal clashes
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has been petitioned by the family of Udeh Orokpo of Efugo Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State to release the corpse of Mr. ASP Akor who was killed in Anambra communal clashes.
Late ASP Akor Udeh, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, the family believes, must have been killed during a communal clash between the people of Odekpe and Alla communities in Anambra West council area of the state during which four people were alleged to have been killed and one person kidnapped.
His younger brother, Mr. Simon Patrick Akor, who signed the petitioned on behalf of the family and made available to journalists in Awka explained that Mr. Akor, was serving at Mopol 29 Anambra State, and has not been in contact with his family since April 23, 2020 after the communal clash.
The report said, Akor went with other colleagues to quell the bloody boundary dispute between Odekpe and Alla communities in Anambra West local council area of Anambra State on the said date after after which four persons were reportedly feared killed.
He stressed that the officers were ambushed and kidnapped by youths from the community, but Akor was not fortunate to be released like others.
He narrated: “a strange person used ASP Udeh’s phone number and called me as his younger brother and told me that my senior brother has been killed and his body buried in a shallow grave in one of the disputed communities.
“The caller said he would throw away the phone and the SIM card after that call so that it’s not used to trace him. True to his words, the number has not been reachable since then”, he added.
He added: “Since then, i have made every possible attempt to know the true situation of things from the Anambra State Police Command but they have been resorting to hide and seek.
“The State Police Public Relations Officer is not answering my calls while the DPRO keep saying “they will get back to the family”.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to please urgently come clean and tell the family, the fate of the missing officer
“If Officer Akor is still alive, we call on the IGP to help facilitate his release to reunite him with his family as his wife was delivered of a baby boy on April 26, 2020 in his absence.
“If indeed he has been killed, the least we demand from the police authority whom he served diligently for many years is to help us secure his corpse for the family to give him a befitting burial.
“The mental torture and psychological trauma the family has gone through in the last few days is unbearable.
“We will also appreciate any individual that can help with any useful piece of information that could lead to the release of our brother, ASP Akor, dead or alive”, he concluded.
In his reaction on the incident, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, said the missing officer was among the personnel deployed to maintain peace in Odekpe on Thursday last week following Communal clash between the two warring communities but since then the officer was missing and effort is ongoing by the Command to locate his where about.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Abubakar Zubairu has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to fostering community-driven security solutions.
He stated this while addressing a cross-section of Stakeholders at the Okene engagement programme and further re-echoing the call for community participation in security efforts, noting that manpower limitations and resource constraints necessitate an inclusive Policing approach.
He commended the Commissioner for his proactive leadership and stressed that “security is everybody’s business, and together, we can ensure stability and peace.”
In his remarks, CP Dantawaye reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to fostering the implementation of Community Policing project as a key approach for effective Policing.
He emphasised the importance of synergy between Law enforcement Agencies, Traditional Institutions, Local Communities, as well as other Security stakeholders in combating crime, particularly kidnapping and other security threats.
He further commended the unwavering dedication among various security formations, including the NSCDC, Local Vigilante, Hunters, as well as NYSC members.
He urged the community members to play an active role in intelligence gathering, stating that, Policing cannot be done by the men on uniform alone. We need every citizen to be our eyes and ears to ensure a safe society.
He cautioned the officers on discipline, professionalism as well as respect for Human rights. He disclosed that Police Officers are undergoing continuous training to improve the operational capacity and to also equip them with the needed skills for investigation.
The event witnessed the presence of respected traditional rulers, local government representatives, transport unions, and various ethnic and community groups, all of whom pledged their commitment to strengthening security collaboration.
As part of ongoing efforts to curb crime, the Nigeria Police Force in Kogi State will intensify intelligence-based operations, enhance police-community relations, and continue engaging stakeholders to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.
Lt. Cynthia Akor, a Navy officer attached to Defence Headquarters in Abuja and two others have been abducted with their abductors demanding for N100 million ransome for their release.
The officer and others were reportedly kidnapped from their residences in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday night and by Saturday their abductors called their families and demanded for N100 million ransom for the victims to be freed.
Our correspondent learnt on Saturday that their abductors have gotten in touch over ransom.
A source said: “Anong the three people that were kidnapped on Friday night in the Mpape area is a DHQ official, Akor.
“The kidnappers have already reached out to their families and are demanding N100m ransom,” the source said.
Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, were unsuccessful, as they had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said she would confirm the incident and provide further details.
“I will confirm and get back to you shortly,” she simply stated.
She has not reverted as of the time of filing this report.
The Security Adviser to Kogi State governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (retd) has said security operatives are on the trail of abductors of 18 passengers on a bus belonging to the ABC Transport.
The passengers were kidnapped on Sunday.
Mr Omodara disclosed this on Thursday in Lokoja.
The bus, reportedly heading to Abuja on Sunday, March 16, from the South-East was reportedly hijacked by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers at Oloma in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, a border town between the state and Enugu State.
Reliable sources said that all the bus passengers including the driver were abducted by the gunmen.
However, Mr Omodara, who confirmed the incident, said that a combined team of security operatives had launched a manhunt for the abductors.
He said the operatives in Kogi State, including the military, police, SSS, NSCDC and vigilante groups were in synergy to rescue the victims.
He stated, “Just on Wednesday, all the security heads met twice to see that we get the kidnappers and rescue the victims.’’
According to him, this kind of synergy and cooperation from residents provide security agents useful information that helps them to succeed.
He said that Kogi State had recorded a drastic drop in kidnapping incidents and crimes due to synergy and cooperation from residents.
The state security adviser said though they might not be able to completely eradicate crime in the state, they were making efforts to tackle any that reared its ugly head.
He assured families of the abducted passengers that they would be released unhurt.
He added, “We want Kogi to be a haven for all residents and passers-by alike.”
(NAN)
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