Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the plan to constitute a team to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the attacks on the convoy of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday.
He disclosed this on Thursday while featuring at the State House Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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Baba, who reacted to questions bothering on recent attacks on the campaign rallies and political events in Rivers, Kaduna and Borno States, said the state police spokesperson in Borno might have reached a conclusion too quickly in his assessment.
The PPRO had said there was no major attack on Atiku’s convoy, adding that a suspect who stoned the PDP presidential candidate’s convoy had been arrested.
But the IGP said the state PRO might have been too hasty and not conclusive, hence the need to establish a team to make holistic assessment from the various narratives to ascertain the true picture and prevent a reoccurrence.
The IGP urged politicians to play by the rules ahead of the elections in 2023 and avoid violent clashes during electioneering.
He said: “On how realistic it is in stopping the issue of violence in our political agenda either in rallies or campaigns. Well, it takes two to tango. There are laid down means, ways procedures to do rallies and campaigns.
“On our part, we have gone out to appeal to politicians to play the game by the rules. And at the same time allow us to regulate political processions, campaigns and rallies, to avoid clashes and so forth.”
He said the force was fully prepared to ensure a peaceful general elections and carry out its responsibilities in line with the provisions of the laws.
The IGP said suspects arrested after the travel advisories issued by the United States and United Kingdom in Abuja would be charged to court soon by the security agency handling their case.
Baba, who declined to give accurate number of those arrested in connection with the threats, said the security stakeholders picked holes in the advisories because it caused apprehension among the citizens.
He said the security situation in Nigeria had been reasonably stable in spite of the activities of unpatriotic elements and non-state actors who engaged in criminal activities across the country.
