Ngige petitions IG, threatens retaliation
From John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja), Chuks Collins and Ijediogor Godwin (Awka)
UNLESS Police authorities step in fast and decisively stop the rampaging hoodlums in Anambra State, the state government will deploy its own forces to take the hell-raisers head-on.
This was the kernel of a petition fired to the Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, on Tuesday by the state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige.
"I have told the good people of Anambra State to be law-abiding and refrain from any act that will cause a further breach of the peace in the state... However, if this ugly situation persists as it is, I will have no option than to let them rise up and chase away these hoodlums... if the Nigeria Police can not live up to their responsibilities," Ngige declared.
In the petition dated November 10, 2004 and entitled "Threat to Security in Anambra State," the governor chronicled the extent of damage caused by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by Chief Chris Uba and his group and the alleged role of the Police in the violence.
He said the Police authorities in the state refused to act despite the early warning signals communicated to the Commissioner of Police by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Chris Atuegwu.
"I am extremely at a loss at this turn of events, more so when my honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Sir Chris Atuegwu, had on behalf of the Government of Anambra State, intimated before hand the Commissioner of Police of the State Command of these actions as they were being hatched," he wrote.
Ngige said as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he would want the IG to intervene, adding that if the situation continued, he would be compelled to retaliate.
"As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I call on you to do the needful and call upon the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest this ugly trend as the situation is clearly unacceptable," the governor warned.
The governor also attached a copy of the petition earlier written by the state government to the IG on the arrest of the Anambra State Vigilante Group and seizure of government vehicles by the Police in the state.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Chris Olakpe, however told The Guardian that he was not aware of Ngige's petition.
Meanwhile, The Guardian learnt that the Commissioner of Police in Anambra Felix Ogbaudu, had turned in an interim report to the Inspector General of Police.
The report which, according to sources, was submitted yesterday, contained details of the destruction done and list of the suspects arrested so far.
Balogun, had earlier in the day, said that the Police high command was expecting a report. Balogun, who spoke after presenting cheques to next of kins of 11 police officers said:
"We are expecting the report." The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Anambra crisis as a threat to democracy.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Venatius Ikem, stated this yesterday at the party's national secretariat in Abuja when the chairman of the Anambra branch of the party, Uchenna Emordi, addressed a press conference.
Ikem said the party would conduct a thorough investigation with a view to taking a decisive action.
"If the Anambra crisis is not carefully handled, it is a threat to democratic process in this country. Now that it is a full-blown crisis, the party will send a delegation to Anambra. We will also hear from the security agencies to get a clearer idea of what happened. What is clear is that many of our members are not learning from the crisis. This time around, if we move in we will be very decisive and whoever is found culpable will face dire consequences."
He, however, said the issue of emergency rule was beyond the party.
Earlier, Emordi had narrated the incident and blamed the governor for insisting on his own list for the local government election scheduled for December 18, 2004.
Text of Ngige's petition of Wednesday November 10, 2004, reads in part:
- In the early hours of 9th November, 2004 some men believed to be agents of the Chris Uba-led faction of the PDP in the state invaded the Anambra Broadcasting Service Station at Onitsha destroyed both transmitter and studio houses and burnt down the entire station.
- On the same night, as the arson at Onitsha was taking place, another group of thugs and criminals also believed to be acting on behalf of the Chris Uba-led faction of the PDP in Anambra State equally invaded ABS Station at Enugwu-Ukwu near Awka, sacked the entire staff, destroyed vehicles belonging to the Government and some staff and set the station on fire.
- These groups of arsonists at both stations threatened the station staff on duty that their lives are in danger.
- I am also informed that the same group of thugs and criminals invaded the State Independent Electoral Commission Headquarters at Awka, chased away the Chairman and other staff and set the building ablaze at about 12 noon today with a few policemen standing around.
- They equally went to the Government House, Awka, harassed and chased away workers and set part of the building ablaze. All these actions were taking place while the police stood and watched.
"Further to the above the Chief Chris Uba-led faction of PDP equally engaged the services of NARTO (National Association of Road Transport Owners) and some imported thugs to cause more trouble and mayhem in the state. In furtherance to their brief, these thugs and hoodlums, with the active participation of miscreant recruited from outside the state converged and blocked vehicular movement into and out of Onitsha at the Niger Bridge head. The consequence of this brigandage is better imagined.
"I am informed also that early this morning the 10th of November, 2004 a detachment of mobile policemen led by the MOPOL Commander in Awka, invaded and sealed off the residential quarters of the State House of Assembly members. The Speaker of the Assembly and other members who are resident there, have been held hostage since 6 a.m. today. The mobile policemen have not allowed movement in and out of the premises since the siege began. As I am writing this letter, security reports from Awka informed me that thugs and hoodlums have invaded the premises of the Assembly members, destroyed their vehicles and properties and even physically attacked some of their members.
"You will recall that sometime last week men of the State Vigilante Services were indiscriminately arrested impounded and kept at the Central Police Station, Awka. These were men guarding the government establishments and buildings post since the removal of the Governor's Police Security by your office. I do not want to believe that these police actions were planned or premeditated to pave way for the events of last night."
