LAGOS — DEFENCE Minister, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday in Lagos described last week’s clash between the Police and the Air Force which resulted in loss of lives as a dent on the image of the country. He vowed that the Federal Government was determined to unearth those behind the show of shame.
He also vowed to stop the recurrent clash between security operatives in the country. Engineer Kwankwaso who said this at the inauguration of a seven man Board of inquiry into the Police\Air Force fracas explained that the essence of establishing security organizations in the country was constantly being defeated with the incessant clash arising from unguided interests.
According to him, the importance of the existence of both the Police, the Air Force, the Army the Navy and other organizations was to improve loyal services to the nation regretting however, that the incident was leaning towards the reverse.
“It is always a pleasure from time to time to sit back and reflect and engage each other in sincere search of improving our loyal services to our fatherland, but this is not what we are here for. Indeed, it is with mixed feelings that I stand before you all today to inaugurate the Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to the confrontation between some members of the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos on July 6 and 7 2004. Let me quickly add at this juncture that the Nigerian Military and the Police Force represent the symbol of our national unity.
Your loyalty to your country is not in doubt and you have always made us proud in the professional manner you go about your duties especially outside the shores of our country.
“You will agree with me that the unfortunate incident of 6 and 7 July in Lagos has put a dent in the image of not only our esteemed security organizations but also that of the country as a whole. We must carry out our constitutional duties with all dedication and sense of responsibility. Government has constituted this Board with a view to determining the remote and immediate cause(s) of the confrontation, to apportion blame where necessary and to make recommendation on how to avert future occurrence.”
The Board which has representatives of the police, Air Force, Navy the SSS and the Army was headed by Alhaji Dauda Danladi, Director Admin. and Supplies, Federal Ministry of Defence and has an ultimatum to submit reports on or before July 19, 2004.
