Mass redeployment of policemen from Edo underway
From John-Abba Ogbodo, Abuja
- Officers, 5,000 others for reposting
- IG orders change of operational tactics
THE Police High Command may soon redeploy about 5,000 policemen, including top officers from the Edo State Command.
This is in reaction to a fresh onslaught by suspected armed robbers which has resulted in the killing of several officers.
The Guardian learnt that the state commissioner of police, Paul Ochonu, has already been queried by the Police High Command over the development.
At the management meeting of the police held last week at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters in Abuja, it was resolved that drastic steps needed to be taken since the killings were becoming prevalent.
In August this year, six policemen were shot dead by robbers. Another set of six policemen were also shot dead by suspected robbers in the state last week.
Police chief expressed concern over the trend of attacks on their personnel, noting that if something decisive was not done, the situation could degenerate.
Some top officers of the Force will be redeployed to a less crime-prone state while majority of the others would be moved out so that a new batch could be brought from different formations.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun has directed commissioners of police in various states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to review their strategies.
Balogun, who spoke during an interactive session with inspectors and the rank and file of the Force, described the killing of policemen in Edo last week as worrisome.
The police boss specifically directed that road blocks, pin down and stop and search systems must be reinvigorated, saying: "Do not cluster yourselves in the same place, when you search you don't ask the same set of questions to every man and you must always be at alert." The IG hinted that the commissioners in the various states and Abuja had been directed on what to do to check the activities of the assailants.
The junior police officers raised various issues bordering on welfare, which the IG assured would be addressed.
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