Kidnappings: IGP Redeploys 54 ACPs To Head Police Intelligence Departments

Following the recent surge in kidnapping and banditry across the country particularly in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered the posting of 54 Assistant Commissioners of Police to head the Force Intelligence Departments at zonal and state command levels nationwide.

Over 69 persons were killed and 152 abducted during 194 attacks carried out by bandits and other criminals in the FCT in 2022, according to data sourced from media reports and a leading indigenous intelligence outfit, Beacon Consulting.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Tuesday, said this was in furtherance of the upscaling of the intelligence department of the Nigeria Police Force.

He noted that the posting was premised on the zeal of the IG to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the intelligence department at every level of the force as a panacea to addressing the crime rate in the country, in line with his vision statement.

Adejobi said, “It will be recalled that the IGP on assumption of duty reactivated the presidential approval to upgrade the Force Intelligence Bureau to the status of a department with the appointment of DIG Habu Sanni, as the DIG in charge of the new Department of Force Intelligence.

“The IG has, however, tasked the newly appointed senior officers to deploy all intelligence-based assets in combating crimes and criminality in their respective areas of responsibility.

“He has further charged them to entrench professionalism and apply their wealth of experience in the course of discharging their duties towards strengthening the already existing intelligence architecture of the Force. The posting is with immediate effect.”

Speaking on the recent trend of self-kidnapping in the country, Adejobi issued a stern warning to Nigerians against the act stating that it is a punishable offense under the law.

Mentioning few of such cases recorded in Lagos, Plateau and Abuja states respectively, the FPRO who said swift response by the police thwarted the deceptive acts, the suspects are now facing criminal charges.

He however cautioned the public against such acts or face the consequnces of the law.

“The Force hereby cautions members of the public to be wary of this trend while those with intent to venture into these criminal acts should desist as the police will leave no stone unturned to cause such suspects to face the full wrath of the law.

“Equally, we vehemently encourage the media and social media influencers, bloggers, etc., to constantly verify news before broadcasting such, not to create panic and jeopardize our security arrangements,” the statememt added.