Panic Over Boko Haram: Jonathan Summons IG Ringim

Hafiz Ringim, Inspector-General of Police.

Hafiz Ringim, former Inspector-General of Police.

The several bomb attacks in recent times by Islamic fundamentalists, the Boko Haram, and the impunity with which they have carried them out, have ignited panic in security circles. With palpable threat to national security, President Goodluck Jonathan today summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim to Aso Rock.

Hafiz Ringim, Inspector-General of Police.

According to our correspondent in Abuja, Ringim was forced to cancel a press briefing on the state security as he had to go to Aso Rock this morning.

Ringim and other police chiefs were also expected to hold a crucial national security summit in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, today in response to the challenges posed to the nation by the 16 June, 2011 bombing of the police headquarters in Abuja and the killing of six policemen in Kano and Katsina states yesterday.

Ringim and the police chiefs might continue with the meeting after he might have left Aso Rock, sources said. All the 36 state police commissioners are already in Abuja for the meeting.

“We shall be busy all through today,” one of the commissioners said earlier today.

During Thursday’s bomb attack which Islamic militants, Boko Haram claimed responsibility, two persons were killed while others who were seriously injured are still receiving treatment in hospitals at the Federal Capital territory. Over 36 vehicles were also burnt during the incident.

According to sources at the Louis Edet House Police Headquarters in Abuja, Ringim summoned all the Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGS), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and all the 36 state Commissioners of Police (CPs) to today’s crucial security meeting.

Related News

P.M.NEWS gathered this morning that today’s meeting was meant to further strengthen the relationship between the police and other security agencies including the Nigerian Army, and sister security agencies.

Boko Haram became a national phenomenon when last year they struck in states in Northern Nigeria like Borno, Bauchi, Katsina, Kaduna and Gombe. They attacked churches, police stations, killed and maimed innocent Nigerians. However, soldiers were deployed to the affected states and the insurgency was nipped in the bud. Their leader, Yusuf Mohammed, was captured by the soldiers drafted to assist the police. But within 24 hours after his arrest the soldiers handed over the late Yusuf Mohammed to the police who allegedly killed him as a ploy to cover up the involvement of prominent Nigerians in the formation and funding of the Boko Haram.

The recent strikes by the sect have compelled the panic-stricken police authorities to extend their dragnet to the nooks and crannies of all the local government areas in the states in North. Other security agencies involved in the search for the Boko Haram militants include the State Security Service, SSS, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA).

Yesterday, Boko Haram militants struck killing six policemen in Katsina and one civilian. The attack was carried out by the militants who invaded Kankara, a town 100 kilometres away from Katsina, the Katsina State capital.

They allegedly over powered the policemen, killing the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) and two other police officers. The Islamist militants then seized the armoury and hauled out arms and ammunition with which they continued their attacks.

—Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja & Moyo Fabiyi

 

Load more