The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Olushola Amore, has ordered the dismantling of a camp of Peace Corps of Nigeria in Offa local
government area of the state, describing it as
illegal.
The Command’s Public Relation Officer, DSP
Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the development to
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in
Ilorin.
He said the Commissioner viewed the camp as
illegal, hence the reason he ordered that everyone at the camp should leave. Okasanmi explained that there was no information to the effect that a camp will open in Offa to train anyone.
“We were not officially informed about any camp in Offa and we don’t have any information about any organization organizing any camp there.
“There should be no training or camping of any
organization without the knowledge of the police.
“No organization has secure any clearance to
organize any camp in Offa.
“When we got information that there is a camp
going on somewhere in Offa and since no one
informed us about any, we had to close the camp.
“Doing this, we considered the security
situation of the country because we don’t know
the pedigree of the organization conducting the
camp.
“Our action was to just ensure there is no
breakdown of law and order.
“If we have a directive from Abuja that any
camping will hold, there is no problem because
we don’t have any issue with anyone”
Okasanmi said.
Reacting to the incident, the Kwara Adjutant of
the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr. Folorunsho
Peter, denied the police allegation that his
command did not inform it of its orientation
camp.
He explained that there were some applicants
who had not paid their dues to qualify to take
part in the orientation process who wanted to
forcefully partake in the camping.
“Some persons came and wanted to partake in
the training and they have not paid their dues
and met resistance from our officers on ground.
“The police came in and said the issue has not
been properly resolved and that we did not
obtain clearance to operate.
“We have properly informed them of our plans,
we served them our time table for the
orientation camp.
“We even invited the police commissioner to
come and deliver lecture, as well as DSS,
NDLEA and some other organizations.
“The camp Commandant came to Ilorin to see
the Commissioner of Police, though I was not
with them but was told they had a positive
discussion” Peter said.
Peter said theyhad allowed participants to go
off camp, so as not to have any confrontation
with the police.
He said applicants have been told to report to
the Command’s headquarter in Ilorin on
Monday, Feb. 20, and that camping will resume
again by Tuesday, Feb. 21.
NAN reports that no fewer than 5, 000
applicants from across the country are gathered
for the orientation in Offa. (NAN)

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