Nigeria Police Force Official Website

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE OGBONNA OKECHUKWU ONOVO, OON, NPM, mni  AT THE CONFERENCE HALL FHQ, LOUIS EDET HOUSE ON MONAY 24^TH AUGUST, 2009.

You will recall that in my last press briefing, I assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will leave no stone unturned in ensuring violence free elections in the country.  Justifying this stand point, Nigeria Police arrested twenty five (25) men suspected to be political thugs and were found to be in possession of arms and ammunition, dangerous weapons, and various charms during the last Saturday 22th August, 2009 re-run election into Edo State House of Assembly which was held at Lampese constituency in Akoko Edo Local Government of Edo State.

During this exercise intelligence report at our disposal indicated that some hired thugs were camped in the compound of one Hon. Austin Amune along Okpe road Igara, Edo State.   These thugs were been camped with a view to unleashing terror during the aforementioned election.  On receipt of this report, Deputy Commissioner led a team of Policemen to the scene where twenty six (26) suspects were arrested and twenty three (23) various types of firearms were recovered from them.

It was also very clear in course of investigation that ninety (19) out of twenty six (26) suspects were hired from Kogi State by one of the contestants, one Alhaji Kabiru Adjoko.  And that they were adequately armed by the same Alhaji Kabiru Adjoko who variously paid the thugs various sums of money while others were promised same after the successful completion of their nefarious assignment.

Let me use this medium to warn politicians to desist from fanning the ember of violence and to have a rethink over the use of political thugs before, during or after elections.   They are also advised to adhere strictly to the principles of Electoral Acts so that election in the country can be seen to be credible.

Thank you for attending this briefing.