Crimes and Justice in Nigeria: June 2011

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Killing the IGP

By Patience Ogbo
The home breed terrorist group, Bokom Haram has claimed responsibility for
the bomb blast at the Force headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Some media commentators said the group has shown its seriousness to keep
the nation in fear until their demands are met. Others blame the IGP Hafiz
Ringim inaction able comment a previous day to the bomb attack of flushing
the Bokom haram sect, as responsible for the terrorist’s sect showing off
the stuff they are made of by detonating a suicide bomb in the police
headquarters.

From the report we have gathered, it is obvious that the target was
Mr.Ringim. . A 234next version said

"A traffic warden near the scene who requested anonymity said the explosion
took place shortly after Mr Ringim's convoy entered the building. He said
the bomber, who was driving an old model Mercedez Benz car, was right behind
the IG's incoming convoy, and gained entrance into the building premises
despite efforts to dissuade him by policemen riding in the last vehicle in
the convoy.

Sources say that as soon as the suspected bomber entered the premises, he
attempted to park the car beside that of the inspector general but was
stopped by a police superintendent who forced him to move to an adjacent
parking garage." the newspaper reported.

The question, is why is the IGP being targeted? Why did the police
officers at the entrance gate not stop the suicide bomber until he was so
close to Mr. Ringim and had to go park somewhere else?

If the car was suspected as claimed by the police spokes person Olushola
Amore, why was the same car allowed to park inside the premises? Why was he
not asked to park outside the police premises? Other questions begging for
answers are ,where are the multi-million anti-terrorism and anti-bomb squad?
What about out dear SSS, and military intelligence? Why is somebody not
resigning already over these endless bomb blasts? If the bombers can easily
PENETRATE THE Force headquarters with the entire CCTV cameras they claimed
they have installed in Abuja, then somebody or some people are aiding and
abetting the Boko haram sect; the security officers are glaringly on their
side.

The truth is that we are only left to what we can see and hear which is
very limited but it is high time we began to perceive beyond what we can see
and hear. The boko haram is the security officers and the security officers
are the Boko haram, they are already in the Nigeria police Force and other
security agencies.

This suicide attempt on the IGP is the second in two weeks as it was
reliably gathered that a” disgruntled" DSP attempted to kill the IGP two
weeks ago .The said DSP attached to the Federal anti-robbery squad has since
been detained on the orders of the IGP. A police source who requested
anonymity said “the suspected DSP attempted to kill the IGP after he learnt
that the IGP has removed his name from the security personnel of a governor
in the north and has replaced it was one of his "boys". How the said DSP
attempted to kill the IGP is still being investigated.

This brings us to the question I asked earlier, who wants the IGP dead? As
it is now, Mr. Ringim is the most “unsafe” man in the country. I wonder how
he can make Nigerians safe when he himself is been targeted and the first
instinct we know is that he will protect himself and his family first before
thinking of Nigerians.

One would have thought that the attempt on Mr. Ringim’s life last week
Thursday would have elicited empathy from his officers, but the reverse is
the case .The officers said the IGP should not expect their empathy or
sympathy has he has not shown empathy to his officers.

Their disdain for the IGP is related to his comments exonerating the army
for dastardly murdering in cold blood key officers of the Badagry police
station on May 26th. Mr. Ringim’s comment infuriated his men and from the
interview I conducted with some of the officers after the bomb blast in
Abuja, some of them said he is being paid in his own coin by not showing
empathy to his officers' death. One officer said " the IGP is in-between the
devil and the deep blue sea, he has created a sense of apathy from his
officers, as the occasion of the death of the Badagry officers was one he
would have utilised to show his officers and men that he care about them, he
would have visited the officers' families and be present during their
burial; this would have portrayed him as a people centered boss,” the
officer said .another officer said “ the IGP’s attitude to the Badagry
officers death is not right ,he was in Lagos when the officers were killed,
and after their death, he visited Lagos twice to commission projects, if he
has time to commission projects, I wonder why he cannot find time to visit
the slain officers’ families and condole with them”

It is sad that it is the same disgruntled officers that are “protecting”
the IGP, “tell me which officer would want to do his or her work effectively
when they have seen that their lives mean nothing to the country?"another
officer, a constable said .

Mr. Ringim's lackadaisical attitude to the gruesome murder of the Badagry
officers was condemned by Nigerians and the human rights groups and some of
them like the AfriRights and Access to Justice have chided the   presidency
for not reacting TO THE BADAGRY KILLING but “now that the IGP was involved
in a bomb attack, Mr. Jonathan has rushed to see him; is Mr. Ringim’s life
better that that of the slain police officers” the Rights groups also want
Mr. Ringim to resign. “Since he CANNOT PROTECT HIS OWN OFFICERS, HE HAS
SHOWN THAT HE CANNOT PROTECT NIGERIANS” Afolabi Gbajumo, the president of
AfriRights said.

Somebody must take the blame for the bomb blast at the Force headquarters.
Mr. Ringim, himself, and then the security at the entrance to the Force
Headquarters should be investigated.

Also the police must begin to purge his own house as the bokom haram sect
has infiltrated the police Force because how will the bomber had known when
Mr. Ringim left his house?, who would have informed the bomber on how to
beat the security at the gate? who would have passed on the intel that the
IGP would be at the office at 11.am that day ?; these vital information on
the movement of the IGP can only come from an insider and it is high time
he started the purging before he becomes a roasted meat.

I am not saying he should surround himself with his Hausa or Muslim
officers, because typically and expectantly, that is what the IGP will do,
in short the IGP has been accused of deploying officers on ethnic and
religious sentiments all over the country. Read TheNews magazine of June
20th. This is not what the nation needs and it will not serve the greater
goal of national security.

What we need in and around the IGP manning our security outfits are
professional police officers who have proven their capabilities to rise to
the duty of safeguarding lives and property. Such officers are in all
tribes, creed   and religions in the country and they should at this
critical moment in our nation's existence be called upon to braze the storm.

It is time for Nigerians to unit in love and purpose for this country to
watch our neighbour’s back and be the security we desire, as the security
agencies alone as it has shown cannot guarantee our safety. This is not the
presidency or Mr. Ringim’s fight alone, it is our collective battle to rise
to the challenge of protecting our homes, our dear country and our future
from the monster called Boko haram and all militant groups in and outside
the country; it is not a TIME TO FEAR, but a time to go the extra mile to
search for clues, to watch our neighourhood , to observe strange movements
and people and to give security agencies vital information that will help
them do their job better; Nigerians are the security we need; a   stitch in
time , they said save nine; this time , it will save millions.