The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, announced in Lokoja on Wednesday that with immediate effect, political rally, public procession and demonstration have been banned in the state.
 |
| Sen. Dino Melaye |
The police command in Kogi on Wednesday announced an indefinite ban
on rallies, public procession and demonstration in all parts of the
state.
The Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, who made disclosure in
Lokoja during a meeting with area commanders, divisional police
officers and senior police personnel, said that the ban takes immediate
effect.
He said unknown gunmen attacked people at a rally being addressed
by Dino Melaye in Lokoja on June 12 and the current tensed security
situation in the state informed the decision.
Mr. Inalegwu added that the decision was approved during an
emergency meeting of the state security council held on June 13 and
would remain in force until the situation improved.
He said no public rally, procession or demonstration would be
allowed in the state again without comprehensive threat assessment
report from the area commanders and divisional police officers and final
approval from him.
The commissioner described the invasion of the rally being
addressed by Melaye as unfortunate, sad and avoidable, reiterating,
however, that the senator did not obtain permission before holding the
rally.
He directed his officers to start arresting motorists engaging in illegal use of siren on highways in the state as from June 22.
He said vehicles with covered numbers plates and illegible number plates should also be impounded and their drivers arrested.
The police commissioner said that a task force that would implement the decision had been set up.
He, however, added that the state governor, his deputy, ambulances,
emergency response vehicles and the Central Bank of Nigeria bullion
vans were exempted from the ban.
He directed police area commanders and divisional police officers
to formally inform local government chairmen, commissioners, traditional
rulers and others in writing, about the ban on siren.
He said “no abuses will be tolerated; it is strictly for crime control and not any other motive.”
The police boss described the situation in the state as calm,
saying that the rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent
crimes had reduced.
He stressed the need for the police to be ahead of hoodlums always
and urged officers to constantly raid criminals’ hideouts based on
intelligence and in line with best practices and respect for human
rights.
-NAN
No comments:
Post a Comment