* IG orders urgent measures for Children's Day
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, EMMA OVUAKPORIE, JIMITOTA ONOYUME, SIMON EBEGBULEM
Police formations across the country have been put on red alert ahead of today's Children's Day celebrations. The police high command acted against the backdrop of bombings in some parts of the North by the Islamist group, Boko Haram.
The red alert came on a day the immediate past Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe, said that dearth of information from Nigerians to law enforcement agencies was making it difficult to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
Meanwhile, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Sunday Ehindero, has warned against the creation of state police under the proposed constitutional amendment, saying such a step may lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.
IGP's Alert
The police, in a statement, yesterday, said the IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, had directed the zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Command Commissioners of Police in the states of the federation and the federal capital territory to put urgent security measures in place to stem kidnapping and terrorist attacks.
"In order to ensure a hitch-free celebration for the future leaders, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and Command Commissioners of Police to ensure that adequate security is provided at all venues of the Children's Day Celebrations across the country", the statement, signed by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said.
It added: "The Commissioners of Police and other heads of Police formations are further directed to collaborate with all relevant government agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that the kids enjoy their day without any hitch".
The statement quoted the IGP as advising Nigerian children and youths to use the celebrations to reflect on what they can contribute positively to their fatherland.
Abubakar urged them to shun cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractices, violence and crimes in all forms and learn to live in peace with one another.
He further advised the children not to allow the purity of their hearts and innocence of their conversations to be defiled by negative internet contents, peer group pressure and bad company.
The IGP enjoined the children to concentrate on their academic and vocational pursuits in order to prepare and equip themselves for leadership roles in the near future.
Security forces need intelligence – Ex-NIA boss
Canvassing the peoples support for law enforcement agencies, yesterday, the immediate past NIA DG, Imohe, said the only way to tackle the security challenges confronting the nation is when citizens are conscious of their security by giving useful information to law enforcement agents.
Imohe, who described security matters as very tasking, pointed out that it is always difficult to tackle crime or terrorism without information, especially from the public.
He spoke in Benin City, Edo State capital, when the Edo Youth Political Vanguard (EYV) honoured him following his disengagement from service after 35 years.
"Security issues are the responsibility of all Nigerians. We must give information to security agents to work. It is not easy to tackle matters like that, but I am glad that as a nation we have all it takes to protect our citizens. But citizens must complement the efforts of security agents by identifying questionable characters or suspicious movements in our locality", the former security boss said.
"I have passed through a lot in my 35 years in the service and because I always work under ground, people hardly know me. I am glad for this honour today and I urge all of us to work for a better society.".
Speaking at the award, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, described Imohe as an achiever and a proud son of Edo State. Owie admonished youths to abstain from social vices which may stop them from achieving their dreams.
In his address, the Edo State Coordinator of the EYV, Comrade Omomila Okute, explained that the erstwhile NIA DG was honoured due to his unblemished records while in service, adding that " it is also to afford us an opportunity to welcome our son back home so to that he can use his wealth of experience to assist in the development of our state".
State police will divide Nigeria, Ex-IGP warns
Meanwhile, Ehindero, a former IGP, yesterday, said the creation of a state police will lead to the disintegration of the country.
Speaking at a two-day seminar organised by the House Committee on Constitution Review, he said, "There is no need for a state police as this is capable of disintegrating Nigeria because there might be clashes between the federal and state police.
"This was very noticeable during the colonial era where there were clashes between local and Native Authority Police".
Also addressing the gathering, Muhammed Auwal Umar of Bayero University listed key challenges to effective policing in Nigeria to include "Poor conditions of service including poor salaries, retirement, equipment and accommodation; limited evidence of strategic approach to policing."
Ehindero dismissed calls for introduction of state police as an invitation to cessation of the country.
According to him, the step would lead to the proliferation of ethnic and regional militias.
The former police boss expressed the fear that the introduction of state police could be abused by state governors.
He suggested constant retraining of policemen to update them with modern trends in crime control and security management.
On the Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission, PSC, Ehindero declared that their roles are conflicting.
Ehindero explained that the police know themselves better; so involving the agencies in transfers and postings is wrong as the IGP should transfer and post his men, not another body.
Vanguard Nigeria