7th October, 2010
The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Hafiz Ringim has blamed his men for the high rate of crimes especially in Aba, Abia State.
Ringim blamed the incessant armed robbery, kidnapping and similar crimes on policemen’s corrupt practices which he attributed to poor condition of service.
Addressing police officers in Umuahia, Abia State, during an official visit on Wednesday, Ringim assured that the police will ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the 2011 general elections.
He said necessary logistics had been provided for the police to ease their operations during the general elections.
“The Federal Government has graciously approved our entire request for the conduct of the elections and we can’t afford to disappoint the country,†Ringim said.
He assured that all outstanding allowances of the police officers would be settled before the commencement of the elections as a morale booster.
Ringim said the gesture was to discourage corrupt practices by policemen.
“We don’t want any police officer to go to any governor requesting for any form of help. We don’t have any reason to fail the nation at this crucial time,†he said.
Ringim added that any officer found compromising laid down rules and codes of conduct would be dealt with decisively.
Crime rate in Aba, the commercial centre of Abia state went to an all time high recently with the kidnap of 15 school children. Their abductors kept them for more than a week before they were released by security agents.
Worried by the incessant cases of armed robbery and kidnapping, traders in Aba trooped to the streets last week to protest the insecurity of lives and properties.
Abia state Governor, Theodero Orji went on television last night to address indegenes of the state assuring them that government sympatised with the plight of the residents of Aba and that drastic measures would be taken to arrest the high crime rate in Aba.
The people’s grouse arose from their belief that policemen contribute to high crime rates in Aba because they were busy mounting road blocks and extorting money from residents while armed robbers were robbing and killing the people.