IG Deploys Special Intervention Force to Restore Peace in Ife
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday deployed the Special Intervention Force (SIF) to Ile-Ife, Osun State to quell the tribal clashes that have engulfed the ancient town since last Wednesday.
In a statement made available to journalist the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP, Jimoh Moshood, who quoted the IG, said Police are concerned with the unfortunate ethno clashes, disturbance of public peace and mayhem that occurred in the town and its environs.
The clashes, Idris said, had resulted in the loss of innocent lives, destruction of properties worth millions of naira, adding that there is need to put an end to the crisis immediately.
The statement read: “The IG has deployed Police Special Intervention Force, comprising five units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF specially trained Anti Riot Policemen.
“Five Cells of Counter Terrorism Unit, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Technical Intelligence Unit, SIB, detachment of EOD, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), with their headquarters in Ile-Ife.”
He said the the Commissioner of Police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters, Abuja, would lead the Force, adding that their operations will cover the entire Ile-Ife and environs, and other flash/trouble spots in Osun State.
He said: “The Police Special Intervention Forces are already on ground working in synergy with the Osun State Police Command to ensure that total peace and normalcy are restored and sustained in Ile-Ife and environs.
“To achieve success in the operations, the Force will be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, Police standard operations procedures and rule of engagement.”
According to him, the Force will ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed on Ile-Ife and environs by the Osun State Government.
The personnel of the police special Intervention force, Idris said, would carry out 24 hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search; continuous raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, with a view to arrest promptly trouble makers.
“The Force will arrest their sponsors and nip in the bud any further attempt to cause violence and other criminalities in the general area.
“The deployment of the personnel will equally cover communities, towns, villages, vulnerable points, government and private infrastructures and facilities in Ile-Ife and environs, he said.
According to him, the joint investigative team made up of personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, FSARS, SIP and Osun State Police Command CIID headed by an experienced Commissioner of Police under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police (FCIID) are already in Ile-Ife and have succeeded in arresting the arrow-head and principal suspect including some of his thugs that caused the death of most of the innocent victims.