Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met with the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, over the crisis between the Nigeria Army and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia State and some parts of Rivers State.
The IG also berated the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for claiming that men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were armed robbers.
Speaking to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting which lasted almost an hour, the IG said the aim of the meeting was to ensure the security of all Nigerians.
Asked to be specific about strategies he was adopting as regards events in the South-East, he said all critical stakeholders which include governors were being engaged to find a lasting peace.
He said, “Obviously, one, is to deploy policemen across the country, two, we are in touch with the state government, trying to mobilize the political leadership to be able to intervene where necessary on how to lessen the tension in the South-East.
Repeated clashes between Nigerian soldiers and IPOB agitators led by Nnamdi Kanu, forced Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to declare a three-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state.
The police boss also described as nonsense, Wike’s allegation that the reported killing of a SARS officer during a foiled kidnap operation on Monday in the Oroazi area of the state was a confirmation that his men were involved in armed robbery and kidnapping.
Idris said, “He (Wike) has the right to self expression. You know he is a governor.”
Asked if he was not denying the allegation he replied, “Of course I have to deny that, that is nonsense. I have to deny that.
“If a policeman was killed will you say he was involved in crime? I think you are mixing two different issues. A policeman was killed in Rivers in connection with this IPOB issue, is different from saying policemen are involved in crime. You cannot say someone that was attacked and killed is the one involved in crime.”
When reminded that the governor alleged that the dead policeman was one of the three men that were suspected to be members of SARS who were attempting to kidnap someone and he died in the process, the IGP replied, “Who is the person they were attempting to kidnap?
“I just want you to read between the lines. If you have leaders making sweeping allegations obviously it does not make sense.”
