Summons IG Over Southern Kaduna Killings

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has questioned the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, over the recent killings in Southern Kaduna.

A Presidency source said yesterday that Osinbajo summoned the IGP to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, to know what the police were doing to arrest the situation in the area.

The source said the acting president specifically queried the police helmsman on why 21 persons were killed and many others were displaced in Southern Kaduna, despite security measures in place.

The acting president was equally said to have further directed that law and order be restored in the affected communities immediately.

The source, who asked not to be named, said the police boss assured the acting president of a stronger police presence in Southern Kaduna.

He said sequel to the query by the acting president, the IGP had immediately intensified and adopted additional security measures to arrest the situation.

The source listed the new measures as including the deployment of over 15,000 cops to Southern Kaduna. He said the Police Force had finalised arrangements to establish a new Police Squadron in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna, to contain the attacks.

“18 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and a unit of Belarus-trained police special forces have been deployed to Southern Kaduna. The police, in addition, have now increased helicopter surveillance in the entire area to prevent a recurrence of violence in the communities.

“Besides, the police have so far arrested 38 suspects linked to the violence; while 29 firearms have been recently recovered,” he stated.

The source also disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur .Buratai, had briefed Osinbajo on the current security situation in the North-East.

It was also gathered that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) was planning a major briefing on the overall security situation in the country “for the benefit of the Nigerian public.”