Boko Haram: Ringim's Job Shaky over Runaway Suspect…As Group Calls For IG's Prosecution

Normal.dotm 0 0 1 678 3869 huhuonline 32 7 4751 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false

Following the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, an alleged Boko Haram suspect involved in the Christmas bombing in Madalla, Niger State from police custody, Huhuonline.com findings have revealed that the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim may be in for

 trouble.
The unfortunate development, according to the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, has led to the query of Ringim by superior authorities and given until Wednesday to explain the circumstances surrounding the escape of Sokoto who was being led to his residence in Abaji, near Abuja as part of investigations into the Christmas Day bombing.

  Sokoto is believed to have masterminded and coordinated the Christmas Day bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church, which led to the death of many worshippers where others sustained several degrees of injury.

The Police Affairs Minister disclosed that anybody found to be culpable including him and the Inspector General of Police may lose their job over the incident.

  
While explaining that that necessary steps have been taken to address the situation and re-arrest the suspect, the Minister stated, 'from the ministry, I have directed the Inspector General of Police to carry out full investigation and even at higher level, above that one there will be another investigation to ascertain what led to the suspect escape. I have also directed that the officers involved and the personnel involved should be detained immediately.

 
'The commissioner of police has been suspended. In fact beyond that, I have advised that he should be placed under closed arrest because he is the field officer who has the responsibility to ensure all operations regarding arrest and all that are conducted in the usual manner. If he is found to have had complicity in that, he himself will have to account for his mistake.

 
"It is not an indication that if somebody has erred in his responsibility, the outcome of the investigation will prove that. Whatever steps we are to take as a result of this neglect have to be taken it immediately".

 
Police sources at the Force Headquarters revealed the Commissioner of Police (CP) Biu in charge of Investigations at the Zone 7 Police Command in Wuse Abuja may have facilitated the escape of Kabir Sokoto as CP Biu after the 'personal interrogation' had asked his aide to take the suspect for evening prayers within the premises of his office before the escape.

 
"After the prayers, the CP's Aide came back to the office alone and after we were called to account for the suspect", the source revealed. 


 
A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel O. Amore said the Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim has approve the immediate suspension of the CP.


 
"The Nigeria Police Force wishes to confirm that a suspect was arrested in a successful Police operation and was rescued from a team of Policemen detailed to carry out further investigation in the matter. 


 
"The suspect was handed over to a Commissioner of Police for further investigation and he consequently detailed his men to take the suspect to Abaji in furtherance of investigation. In the course of undertaking this important procedure, the Policemen on escorts with the suspect were attacked by the suspected sect gang members and in the process the suspect freed.

 
"The Police view this development as a serious negligence on the part of the Commissioner of Police and have since been queried and suspended from duty. If a criminal case is established against him and his team, they will be prosecuted", DCP Amore said.

 
Meanwhile, a pan Igbo socio-economic and political group, Olu Ndi Igbo (Voice of Igbos) has called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of the Inspector General of police, Hafiz Ringim over the disappearance of Kabiru Sokoto, the main suspect of the December 25, 2011 bombing at a catholic church in Madalla, Niger state.

   
Coordinator of the group, Chris Nwandu said it is amazed by the clear cut case of negligence and incompetence displayed by the Inspector General of Police over the handling of the Boko Haram issues which has led to the death of several innocent Nigerians,  especially Igbos in the Northern part of the country.

   
'In that single incident, some families lost relations in fours and fives. And a young girl of 13 lost her entire family, while a couple also lost a set of twins'.

   
It warned that if the President refused to heed its call to retire the IG within two weeks, it will not fail to drag the IG and the Federal Government to the International Criminal Court in the Hague for human right abuses and genocide.'