From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed Police Special Intervention Force to Ile-Ife, Osun State, to restore law and order following the ethnic clash between Hausa and Yoruba youths. The Hausas and Yoruba youths had engaged themselves in a violent clash that claimed many lives and properties.
The police special intervention force comprising five units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Anti Riot Policemen. Counter Terrorism Unit, Conventional Policemen, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), SIB, Anti Bomb, Police K9 (Sniffer Dogs Section), is led by the Commissioner of Police in charge of PMF, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
IGP, Idris, said, the Special Intervention forces have since arrived the town and are working in synergy with the Osun state police command to ensure that peace and normalcy are restored and sustained in Ile-Ife and environs.
The IGP, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Jimoh Moshood, said to ensure a successful operations, the force would be proactive and strict in the enforcement of its mandates, Police standard operations procedures and rule of engagement.
He said: “The force will ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed on Ile-Ife and environs by the state government.
“The personnel of the police special intervention force will carry out 24 hours surveillance and patrol, stop and search; continuous raids of identified criminal hideouts and black spots, with a view to arresting trouble makers, their sponsors and nip in the bud any further attempt to cause violence and other criminalities in the area. The deployment of the personnel will equally cover communities, towns, villages, vulnerable points, government, private infrastructures and facilities in Ile-Ife and environs.
“Joint Investigation team made up of Personnel of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, FSARS, SIP and Osun state police command headed by an experienced Commissioner of Police under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), in-charge of FCIID are already in Ile-Ife and have succeeded in arresting the arrow-head and principal suspect including some of his thugs that caused the death of the innocent victims.”
According to the statement, “traditional rulers, religious leaders, public office holders, politicians, opinion leaders, parents and guardians are hereby advised to prevail on their subjects, supporters, and children to support the personnel of the police special intervention force in the discharge of its responsibilities, propagate peace, demonstrate love, and tolerance to promote harmonious coexistence with their fellow citizens, irrespective of religious, ethnic inclinations and differences.”
The IGP, while assuring the good people of Ile-Ife and environs of adequate security and protection of lives and property, called on them to be law abiding.