The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has warned that state commissioners of police (CPs) should ensure that state governments do not equip militia and vigilante groups.
Idris who made this known on Thursday in Abuja during monthly meeting with CPs, noted that arming vigilante and militias is against the law prohibiting firearms.
He also directed the Commissioners of Police to monitor the activities of state governments a head of the 2019 elections.
He said: “Everybody is aware we are entering a tedious and serious period in this country. The political issues are coming up to the fore and I believe as officers, we must gear up in our various locations and responsibilities to ensure that we ensure law and order all over Nigeria.
“As police officers, we know our duties. We know some issues that must be considered very seriously because we are coming into a political arena.
“Commands should be very conversant with arming of militia men or vigilante because before a vigilante group is established by a government, there must be a bylaw which must be passed by the House of Assembly.
“It is the responsibility of the Commissioners of Police in charge of Commands to study the bylaw and see how it conforms with the constitution and other laws of this country but where through the connivance of some Police officers, you have a command arming militia men under several leus, I think our officers have to brace up to face these challenges.
He alos said: “No government in this country has the responsibility to approve some prohibited firearms to any Nigerian under any guise.
“I think it is the responsibility of CPs of Commands to put a close watch to the activities of some of these governments that are arming individuals which is against the laws of this country.
“All of us are aware of these prohibited firearms, you cannot give approval for any individual to own a pistol or AK47 Rifles. These are prohibited weapons and only the government has the authority to give that approval.
“I call on CPs of various Commands to closely watch the abuse of authority at various levels”, he said.
Commenting on killings in Nasarawa and Benue State and the impact of his relocation as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the IGP Idris said the killings have reduced drastically.
He said, “To be frank, I relocated to Benue for about eight days and when I came back, I left the DIG Operations there. I must say that the incidences in Benue State and Nasarawa State have reduced drastically”.
He added that,”We had an attack on some travellers in Gboko town, in Benue State where seven fulani people were murdered.
“Seven of them were travelling from Taraba to Kogi State, they stopped in Gboko and the youths there, seeing that they were fulani, pounced on them, killed and roasted them.
“We are investigating that issue now. Our monitoring team have been dispatched to Benue and some arrest have been made in that regard.”
He added that, “This issue like I said from the beginning, is communal clash. These are clashes occurring between two members of the community and like I stated in both states, as Nigerians, we should learn to live together and tolerant of each other.
“I addressed traditional rulers recently in Port Harcourt and I think they have a lot to do to bring peace and harmony within their community.
“This country needs leaders that can unite the communities not leaders that create divisions and I think it is high time leaders answer their names and be among those that will bring peace and stability all over the country”, he said.
