Caverton pilots: Rivers Police commissioner Dandaura kicked out

Rivers CP, Mustapha Dandaura: kicked out of the command

Rivers Police Commissioner, Mustapha Dandaura has been kicked out by the Inspector General, Mohammed Adamu.

Mustapha will leave the command with immediate effect to become the provost of Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Adamu named Joseph Gabum Mukan Dandaura’s successor in the Rivers Command.

The IGP also announced the posting of Musa Adze as commissioner Anti-Fraud Unit.

“The IGP charges the affected Commissioners of Police to diligently and professionally discharge their duties in their new areas of responsibilities”, the police statement said.

Observers believed Dandaura, who became Rivers commissioner in July 2019, was kicked out over the role he played in the arrest of two Caverton Helicopters pilots.

The two pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari were arrested on 7 April, on the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike.

Wike accused them of contravening the Executive Order issued to check the spread of coronavirus in the State, by flying untested expatriates into Port Harcourt.

The case became a test of strength between the state and the Federal Government.

The two pilots, kept in house custody got a bail from Chief Magistrate D.D . Ihua-Maduenyi on 14 April.

The same magistrate initially ordered their remand in prison.

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9 Comments

Jasper says:

April 17, 2020 at 9:32 pm

Nigeria is undoubtedly in a sorry state because most Nigerians, that can easily be classified as the poor and downtrodden Nigerians are their own enemies.

They can neither reason nor see beyond their noses. How could you explain, justify or rationalize the reassignment of Rivers State commissioner of police.

Why would anyone suggest that the commissioner of police erred in the arrests and prosecutions of the pilots that flew into Rivers State at a time there was an official order for lockdown.

Nigeria has been so polarized since Buhari came to power, really, this same people celebrating the reassignment of Rivers State commissioner of police and seemingly heaping abuses on governor Wike for doing his legitimate and official duty of protecting the lives and properties of citizens and residents of Rivers State would undoubtedly be supportive of the arrests and prosecutions of the pilots if they were arrested and detained in Daura for being in contravention of the lockdown order necessitated by the Corona virus just as it was the case in Rivers State.

I paraphrase, if the Pilots were arrested by Kastina or Kano State governments for flying into their respective states during lockdown, the commissioner of police would be promoted, but if it was in Rivers State, there will be hue and cry? Nigerians why? Has hunger taken over your brains or are you guys being unreasonable and ethnically imbued?

It’s becoming a phenomenon for the fulani herdsmen lead federal government to be treating the rest of the ethnic nationalities with disdain, just recently, General Adeniyi was redeployed just for speaking out against the dangers of combating Boko Haram terrorists with minimal weapons when Boko Haram terrorists are evidently more equipped.

Once again, I call on the national assembly to speak out against this underlying injustices and prejudices that is festering disunity, insecurity and instability in Nigeria.

The federal government should be made aware that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

The same way the federal government expect Nigerians to obey their lockdown order in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states is the same way discerning, bipartisan Nigerians and governor Wike expect his lockdown order in Rivers State to be adhered to strictly.

I’ve been living outside Nigeria for over 36 years, consequently, I am well exposed to Western culture and limitations of rights in a democratic setup.

If for any reason the federal government needed to fly into any state during lockdown, the state governor will be put on notice. Donald Trump with all his nuisances wouldn’t like to be found to be in flagrant disregard and violation of the state of California’s orders during lockdown.

Instead of showboating, the federal government should instead apologize to Rivers State government for encroaching their airspace without permission during lockdown which is obviously an emergency situation.

The federal government should also be made aware that their rights stop where another person’s rights begin.

What a federal government in flagrant disregard of laid down rules. What a situation. I take a stroll. Nonsense.

Francis says:

April 17, 2020 at 10:08 pm

It is you who is ignorant about what’s on the ground, people on essential services are exempted from COVID-19 lockdown but either Wike is ignorant that after COVID-19 he still need money to run the state or he is just flexing his muscle as a Local champion.
chris says:

April 18, 2020 at 2:35 pm

Insubordination is a very big offense in the work place how much more in the military. The grass usually knows that it will suffer whenever two elephants fight…

Pius Odiaka says:

April 17, 2020 at 7:39 pm

It is wrong to say the Rivers Commissioner of Police was “kicked out.” He was rather transferred or reassigned. We should be careful using words. “Kicked out” means he was sacked; and could generate serious political problem in the country, given the controversy over the arrest of the pilots.
We should also be reminded that the Force Headquarters would not want its officers, anywhere, remain in controversy over political issues or reaction. Therefore, reassigning Dandaura is not out of indictment but to save him out of political trouble. He did not, in anywhere, commit any offence for obeying the instruction of the chief security officer of the state. Wife was his boss. Anyone who expected Dandaura or any security officer in River State to disobey Wike should resign his appointment and go back to school. Police affairs must not be seen from APC-PDP prism!

Elijah Okupevi says:

April 17, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Whether kicked or reassigned, etc, King Kong will no longer have him at his whims and caprices. That is why the opponents of State Police will always win their arguments against State Police. Can you imagine Governor Wike, a lawyer behaving like an agbero?

Elijah Okupevi says:

April 17, 2020 at 7:27 pm

Serves him right. How a career officer kowtow to politicians who come and go?

Emm says:

April 17, 2020 at 8:01 pm

What do you mean. So he cant orders from Wike again. Nonsense society
Charles says:

April 18, 2020 at 2:58 am

Elijah
you are a typical Nigerian, just react without thinking deep. That is why Nigeria is upside down. The Governor is the chief security officer of the state, The CP has to obey him whether wrong or right. In Management terms, the CP has line responsibility to both IGP and the Governor in this present structure, which is an anomaly. The constitution need to be amended to state it clearly that a CP has a line responsibility to the state Governor only, otherwise in the nearest future a more serious thing will happen and will cause break down of law and order
Elijah Okupevi says:

April 18, 2020 at 4:42 am

Chief Security Officer my foot!. Oil workers are on essential duties and that is why the platform are still running. Wike needs to come out to tell us his grouse is with the #10b given to Lagos State by the Federal Government. If then, diplomacy will solve many problems instead of Wike’s agbero. People nudging him to behave irrationally are his enemies because he not be Governor of River State forever!