Protect yourself first, IG tells policemen

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has described as embarrassing and annoying the recent kidnap of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.

The DPO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Amos Aliyu, was on Sunday kidnapped around his residence at Turin Fulani by unidentified persons.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior oficers, the IG urged policemen to be careful and protect themselves first.

Idris also said Commissioners of Police would be vicariously liable if anything happens to any policeman under them. “There should be more visibility policing. Policemen should be deployed to flashpoint areas to take care of security because the presence of police in those areas would help in the reduction of crime.

“We must take the protection of our officers seriously. We have a problem; two days ago, one of our DPOs was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you have all the policemen under your command and then you start driving as if you don’t have anybody.

“You allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and your orderly, it is very embarrassing. We had the same issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going on leave travelled alone. It is embarrassing. Utilize the men you have and you must protect yourself first. You can only protect others when you are protected because you are a target.

“The information we are receiving is that our ACP’s vehicle was abandoned in a bush and he has not been seen which obviously means that he has been kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation? It is becoming an embarrassment. DPOs and other personnel should be careful of their movement.”