Police commission wants Imo, Delta CPs punished over fresh Delta killings

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has demanded sanctions against the Commissioners of Police in Imo and Delta States over killings of some police officers.

The commission specifically said the killings in some states had become worrisome while calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take another look at the capacity of CPs in state commands.

Daily Trust reports that no fewer than six officers of the Nigeria Police Force were killed a few days ago in an ambush that happened in Ohoro Forest, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta, while six other officers were declared missing in action.

In the same vein, two policemen attached to MOPOL 18, Owerri, Imo State, were on Saturday killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network,

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The assailants threw dynamite at the police patrol van which the deceased officers were in at the Okigwe area of the state.

Reacting to the incidents, Solomon Arase, the chairman of PSC, in a statement signed by spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said sanctioning the two Commissioners of Police would serve as a deterrent for others who might be found wanting in future.

He condemned in strong terms, the new wave of killings of police officers on official duties, stressing that these officers are also Nigerians who deserve the support, encouragement and protection of the citizens.

Arase, also a retired IGP, stressed that there must be consequences for what he described as “avoidable incidents”, adding that any State CP found incompetent, derelict and operationally or tactically porous should be eased out to avoid these huge police casualties.

“I wish to condole the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun on this unfortunate developments especially at a time when all hands are supposed to be on deck to rid the nation of militancy and banditry.

“We have had more than a fair share of these ugly developments in recent time. I hereby call for an integrated intelligence policing,” Ani quoted the PSC chairman to have said.

The PSC chairman also commiserated with the families of the slain officers, noting time has come for state Command Commissioners to rise up to the occasion.

He enjoined the serving officers not to be demotivated by the ugly developments but to reenact their indomitable fighting spirit that the force is known for to ward-off the new wave of assaults.