The Inspector General of Police ( IGP ) Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday declined to respond to questions on the ” vote of no confidence” passed on him by the National Assembly on at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is just as the Minister of defense, Mansur Dan-Ali, on Tuesday, insist that Benue and Taraba states must repeal the anti- open grazing laws and negotiate safe routes for herders as a panacea for easing tension their states.
Journalists at the Presidential Villa had approached the embattled IGP shortly after the marathon security council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The IGP however declined to take the question relating to the proceedings in the National Assembly.
He however spoke on efforts to restore normalcy to the troubled region of Birnin Gwari, in Zamfara state.
He assured that arrangements were on foot to mobilize full police operation to the region in two weeks.
The IGP said government has concluded plans to move into the trouble spots in Birnin Gwari, Zamfara state as part of measures to tackle insecurity in the area.
He expressed concern over the security situation in the region and assured that the Police will ” do whatever it takes to rout out criminals from the area.
Recall that the National Assembly had on Tuesday, amongst other resolutions, passed a vote of no confidence on the IG
The Minister of Defence also called on the President to urgently establish the National Commission on the control of Small and Light Weapons in Nigeria as well as the need to immediately engage diplomatic channels to avoid United States sanctions on arms procurements.
United States had conveyed to the government information about the implementation of the Countering America’s Adversaries through sanctions Act Section 231, passed in August, 2017.
The Act seeks to impose sanctions on countries found to be engaging in human rights abuses
According to him” The Council was also informed by the Honourable Minister that the United States of America conveyed to the Government of Nigeria information about the implementation of Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act Section 231. It is pertinent to state that the award of contract for the procurement of the Mi-35M helicopters was completed before the Act was signed into Law in August 2017.”
” There is the need for Defence Headquarters to launch a Joint Task Force Operation similar to Operation SAFE HAVEN in Jos to cover Zamfara and Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna State with its headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State.
“The need to employ other channels with the affected states to reduce tension by suspending the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law while also negotiating safe routes for the herders. The urgent need for the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services to prosecute all the suspects arrested in the states.
“The need to hasten the establishment of a National Commission on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria. The need to engage diplomatic channels to ensure US sanctions does not affect Nigeria” he said.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
