IGP Solomon Arase

The Nigeria Police said it had deployed 3,000 officers as “holding force’’ to restore civil authority to the liberated areas in the North-East.

The Inspector -General of Police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase, disclosed this at the End of Year Commissioners of Police Conference held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

“The Force has deployed 3,000 officers as holding forces to the liberated areas in the North-East with the task of restoring civil authority.

“It is pertinent to note that the Force has been fighting side by side the Military in the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East’’, he said.

He stressed that the Police were making efforts to expand the deployment to cover all other theatres of insurgency in the region.

“In this critical national assignment, some gallant officers have paid the supreme sacrifice’’, he said.

He added that the force has dismissed 51 officers for corrupt practices, while 56 others had been made to face diverse punishments.

“Between May and November, the anti-corruption enforcement architecture emplaced by the Force leadership has led to the dismissal of 51 personnel for proven corrupt practices while another 56 have been awarded various punishments’’, he said.

He said that Monitoring Unit; X-Squad and the Provost Marshal have been charged to sustain the enforcement drive in the upcoming year.

The I-G assured that the policy of holding Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, liable for professional misconduct would be re-enforced.

He absolved the Force from acts of violence during the Bayelsa State governorship election.

Arase explained that Police did what was expected of them and should not be blamed for problems created by politicians.
“In fact, I have written letters of appreciation and recommendation for the Police on duty during the election”, he added.