Boko Haram Scare For Nigeria's Police Boss

Hafiz Ringim, Inspector-General of Police.

Hafiz Ringim, former Inspector-General of Police.

All roads leading to Police Academy, Wudil, Kano state, North-West Nigeria were cordoned off Saturday by fierce looking policemen from all crime-bursting departments as the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim made an official visit to the institution.

 

 

Hafiz Ringim, Inspector-General of Police.

Ringim was the Special Guest of Honour at the passing out parade of Cadet Officers in the ranks of Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASP, and Inspectors who completed their 18-month courses at the Academy.

The Police Academy graduated 212 ASPs and 207 Inspectors, while one on Cadet Inspector Course, Nasiru Garba Ibrahim from Zamfara state was dismissed by the authorities of the Academy for misconduct and lack of concentration to his studies.

The uncommon security beef up at Wudil was not unexpected as the Kano city is already on red alert over the menace of Boko Haram.

It could be recalled that Wudil was the town in Kano where Boko Haram carried out their first attack in the ancient city on 27 July, 2009 when scores of the fundamentalists invaded Wudil Police Station in search of arms and ammunition to carry out their activities.

They had wanted to attack security outfits and government establishments in the ancient city but the timely intervention of Police in Kano stopped them. They disarmed two Police men on duty and wounded the station DPO, CSP Sagir Idris.

A Police reinforcement led by the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawal gunned down three of the Islamic militants in a gun duel that lasted for several hours. The following day, Police in a cracking raid made more arrest when they ransacked the thick Forest of Gaya Local Government Area and fished out 20 remnants of the terrorists. In all about 63 members of the terror-gang were arrested and charged to court.

 

The leader of the gang in Kano, Mallam Salisu Al-Amin Wudil Aljawus is still at large. Police is speculating that he may have died after the raid and dislodgement of his group from Wudil.

 

P.M. NEWS gathered that most of the fundamentalists were illegal immigrants from neighboring Niger Republic and Chad. According to a top security chief who craved anonymity, “they came into Kano a long time ago with the sole aim of corrupting the minds of unsuspecting Muslim faithful with their nefarious agenda. I must tell you that this group, Aljawus, has a global network. Their agenda as can be deduced from their mode of operation is to devastate the world; and because of they see northern Nigerian borders porous enough to troop into the country and wreck havoc.”

 

Police had also arrested four people including the Vice Chairman of Wudil Local Government Area, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim Lajawa, 50, suspected as sponsors of the Boko Haram Sect in Kano. Lajawa was said to have built a house and Mosque for the fundamentalist leader four years ago close to Wudil Police station. The House the Boko Haram leader and their Mosque were demolished by the orders of Kano state government.

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According to a Police source, Lajawaâ€s son, Yakubu Yusuf is an ardent follower of Al-Amin. He was said to have escaped with the leader of the Sect after the attack on Wudil Police Station by the fanatics. A former Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Idi Aujara, 61, was also arrested. One of his sons, Zaharadeen was among the 33 Boko Haram members arrested by the Police on the first day of the attack.

The heavy security presence that heralded the arrival of the Inspector-General of Police, Ringim, at the Wudil Police Academy may not be unconnected with the renewed scare of Boko Haram in Kano, though no attack by the terrorists has been witnessed in the ancient city yet.

Again, going by the fact that Wudil once haboured the dreaded group that have been giving security agencies sleepless night with the bombings at Police Headquarters and several other consistent attack on most parts of the North, a top Police officer told P.M.NEWS that, “we donâ€t want to take chances, that is why you see such thick security arrangement.”

During the passing out parade, fierce-looking Police officers were stationed at the Academyâ€s gate as all cars were directed to park outside, while everybody passing through the gate was thoroughly checked and screened.

As part of security measure, the Police provided buses that conveyed people from the gate to the venue of the parade.

For what journalists termed unusual, IGP Ringim did not enter the Officers Mess for the usual refreshment and chat with newsmen as he stopped over, waited outside for few seconds and zoomed off, in apparent effort to avoid questions from journalists who were earlier asked to wait at the Officers Mess.

In his address at the Parade Ground, IGP Ringim urged the graduands to always promote the general tenets of policing, statutory laws and provisions guiding law enforcement agencies, including the ethics of the Police profession.

“As Police officers, it will be expected that having imbibed this training, you will uphold the highest levels of discipline and loyalty and also conduct yourselves in the most professional manner.

“I charge you all to be good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police Force, shun all forms of corruption and do your utmost best to promote the ideals of patriotism, selflessness and service to humanity.

“It is only such virtues that will guarantee your smooth progress in the service of the Nigeria Police Force and help in the achievement of the overall mandate and objectives of protection of life and properties within the Nigerian nation,” the Police boss noted.

However, about five officers received award for their outstanding performance in various disciplines. They are ASP Abuah Felix, over-all best in Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police; ASP Onukafor Kinsley, best in Law; ASP Musa Sule, best in Professional Studies; ASP Victor C. Akukwe, best in Liberal Studies.

Others are Inspector Nwamaga Opkuru Innocent, over all best in the Cadet Inspector Course, best in Law and best in Professional Studies; and Inspector Obot Otobong Michael came best in Liberal Studies.

 

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

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