Police To Take Over Security In North-East From Military – Solomon Arase

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, has said the time has come for police officers to take over from the military in the restoration of peace and normalcy in the North-east.

Also, as the war against terrorism is being gradually won, security experts have called for improved vigilance as a way to avoid more casualties.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting with strategic stakeholders on security stabilisation in the North-east yesterday in Abuja, Arase said with the increasing successes of the military, the time has come for the police to play its lead role in restoring civil authority in the war thorn areas.

He said: “I want to state that the unstable situation and wide range conflict created in the North-east has greatly denied citizens in the affected areas of the security which they constitutionally deserved to enjoy and it is for this reason that Nigeria Police Force is evolving operational strategies that will lead to the restoration of police primacy and restoration of civil authority in the north east.”

He, however, said all the necessary logistics needed for the police personnel on ground would be adequately provided them, not unmindful of their safety.

“Of course, I will not just post police personnel to North-east without first ensure their safety and provision of adequate welfare. That is why we have already sent the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, to go beforehand and ensure adequate preparations towards the taking over of the place by the police,” he said.

Highlighting some of the things the stabilisation exercise will focus on, the IG said it is aimed at accomplishing the re-establishment and strengthening of public authority, safety and rule of law, rendering assistance to victims and communities in order to mitigate the losses and traumatic experiences of insurgency.

Continuing, he said: “The reconstruction of infrastructure and restoration of effective service delivery by public and private providers, restoring and strengthening productive economic activities and social activities.

Also speaking, the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd), who was represented by a staff from the ministry said the internally displaced persons (IDPs) would only be allowed to go back to their home when there is adequate provision of security for them.

He said: “We know that the IDPs are scattered all over the country and that they have been itching to go back home but we cannot throw them back home without adequate security of the areas that have been liberated by the military. That is why this meeting is very vital in the overall concept of winning the war in the North-east.”

In his remarks, the Commandant of National Defence College, Rear Admiral S.I. Alade, pledged the commitment of the college to the restoration of peace and normalcy to the North-east.

He said: “The college is fully committed to quick return of peace and normalcy to the North-east and we are ready to collaborate with sister security agencies and other development partners to forge the way forward and bring about a lasting peace in that region, Nigeria and indeed Africa.

“I must say that this is a step in the right direction and has gone a long way to show your personal resolve and commitment to ensuring a hitch free transition from military dominance to police primacy in the North-east.”

Participants at the meeting also pledged their commitments to seeing that peace and normalcy return to the North-east region.