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Published 9 April 2021
The police authorities have deployed officers of the new Special Weapons and Tactics Team in state commands, Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, has said.
Dingyadi stated this on Friday while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by
The PUNCH.
He said, “They (SWAT officers) have ended their training and they have been posted to the state police commands that brought them for training. They are there with them and they are performing the functions of the SWAT.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that following the nationwide #EndSARS protests last October, the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad over allegations of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings.
Dingyadi said the support of Nigerians would boost the morale of policemen while discharging their duties.
“President Buhari is serious about ending insecurity. But Nigerians have to collectively sit up and own these problems and work together with the security agencies,” he said.
“Police are being killed everywhere and nobody is saying anything. What we need is the support of all Nigerians.”
On the attacks at the Police headquarters in Imo and the Owerri Correctional Centre, he said the police alone cannot be blamed for the failure to forestall the attacks.
“People are always pointing accusing fingers at the police. This report was not just sent to the police, it was sent to other security agencies and to the government as far as my understanding is concerned and then the police at that particular time did the best that they could but they were overpowered.
SWAT Operatives Have Been Deployed In Police Commands, Says Minister channelstv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from channelstv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Governor Hope Uzodinma
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has alleged that some aggrieved politicians sponsored Monday attacks in the state.
Uzodinma, who spoke on Wednesday while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, did not disclose the identity of those politicians.
Unknown gunmen on Monday attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison and freed over 1800 inmates. The attackers also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
The hoodlums further freed the suspects in the cells at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command and made an attempt to loot the police armoury in the state.
Ignatius Igwe
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has blamed the recent attack on security facilities in the state on aggrieved politicians, saying their aim was to destabilise his government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He stated this on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s
Politics Today, three days after gunmen stormed the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in Imo State, freeing an unspecified number of prison inmates.
When asked if the tragic incident was a direct attack on his government, the government replied in the affirmative.
He explained that security agencies have gathered intelligence on the sponsors of the thugs and their planning leading to the attack on government establishments on Monday.