By Ken Afor
Sequel to the brutalisation of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) allegedly by operatives of the Imo State Police Command last Wednesday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the redeployment of Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde.
The IGP at the programme, “Peoples Town Hall On Election Security,” organised by Channels Television on Sunday, acknowledged that although the redeployment of CP Barde may not be linked to the incident that occurred last Wednesday in Imo, the Force was aware of serious allegations against the CP, necessitating the redeployment for the purpose of neutrality.
Egbetokun said, “We are aware that there are allegations against the Commissioner of Police in Imo. Before the elections, we’re changing the CP. This is not to say the CP has been found guilty. But for neutrality’s sake, we are changing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State.”
Following the attack on Nigeria Labour Congress President, Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the organised labour had issued a five-day ultimatum for the redeployment of Barde as a response.
In its solidarity for such calls, the Labour Party had also expressed its endorsement of the demands for the immediate redeployment of the Chief Police Officer and other officers that were reportedly involved in the attack.
On Wednesday, Ajaero was brutally attacked in Owerri while he was mobilizing workers to protest unpaid salaries.
This elicited widespread anger, with the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) accusing the Imo CP of complicity in the attack and giving the federal government a five-day ultimatum to replace him.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states, the IGP has ordered the distribution of 220 operational vehicles for security management in the states.
The vehicles and other equpment consist of water cannons, armored personnel carriers, helmets, bulletproof vests, and tear gas canisters, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a post on the official X handle of the Nigerian Police.
Egbetokun had taken steps to boost the morale of the police officers involved in security operations, arranging training sessions and requesting federal government support to pay allowances and provide other necessary support.
Additionally, he implored stakeholders in the three states to ensure peace and order during the election.
The statement partly read: “In a bid to have smooth electioneering processes in the forthcoming off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States scheduled for 11th November 2023, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered the distribution of additional 220 operational vehicles, including water canons, Armored Personnel Carriers, helmets, bulletproof vests, tear gas canisters etc, to the 3 affected states to intensify security arrangements for the elections.
“Earlier, the IGP had organised training for the police officers, who are involved in the election security management for the forthcoming elections and sought the approval of the federal government for the payment of their allowances and other necessary support to boost the morale of the officers during the operations.
“The IGP, therefore, urges all stakeholders in the three states to embrace peace, uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and be law-abiding in their endeavours before, during and after the elections as the Police and other security agencies have been placed on alert to avert any unruly acts capable of disrupting the elections in any of the states.”
