3rd March, 2022
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba on Thursday disclosed that police operatives arrested 74 deadly terrorists and recovered 32 AK-47 rifles from the criminals in Sokoto and other areas.
Baba spoke in Abuja during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers, consisting of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs).
The IGP, while counting the massive successes of “Operation Sahara Storm” and its significant achievements in bandits’ enclaves within Illela, Rabbah and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Sokoto State between 20th and 29th January, 2022, stated that aside the destruction of all the camps and other assets of the bandits in the criminal enclaves, 38 suspected bandits/terror elements were arrested while 32 AK-47 rifles were recovered,
Also recovered, he said, were one Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher, one thousand four hundred and twelve (1,412) 7.62mm live ammunition, 1,200 rounds of live AA ammunition, one (1) locally fabricated revolver pistol, three (3) motor vehicles, and two motorcycles, 10 cartons of Pentazocine BP 30 Injections, cash sum of N800,000 and three pairs of Army camouflage uniform were recovered during the operation.
The IGP noted that aside “Operation Sahara Storm”, crimes statistics between January, 2022 till date, revealed that 36 terror elements, 78 murder suspects, 110 armed robbery suspects, 50 kidnapers and 150 cultists were arrested during various police operations across the country.
“Equally, two hundred and four (204) kidnapped victims were successfully rescued, while one hundred and fifty-five (155) firearms of various descriptions and one thousand, five hundred and sixty-one (1,561) live ammunition were also recovered,” he said.
Commenting on the upcoming 2023 general elections, the IGP affirmed the commitment of the Force leadership not to only deal with politically related infractions that could ensue, but also with preparations ahead to guarantee the security and credibility of the elections.
The IGP assured that the Force would engage all officers in activities that would fully prepare them for the effective performance of policing roles in the elections, part of which remains close working relationship with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Nigeria Police Legal Chamber towards dissecting the provisions of the Electoral Act as recently amended.
“This is with a view to ensuring that all policing activities are in tandem with the amended Electoral Act 2022,” he said.
Baba reemphasized that while Stop and Search strategy could occasionally be an invaluable anti-crime tactic, such should not be done without requisite approval, must not be a permanent strategy and must equally be conducted with extant police protocols which emphasizes civility to members of the public with the highest level of professional decorum. Strategic Police Managers were charged to review this tactic and ensure their operations conform strictly with the IGP’s policing vision.