OWERRI — Five policemen, serving in Imo State police command, including the armourer of New Owerri police division, are now in detention over how one of the AK-47 rifles officially issued for guard duties, ended up in the hands of dare devil kidnappers operating in the state.

Confirming the develpoment to Vanguard in a telephone interview yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Musa Katsina, said while four of the five policemen were explaining their involvement in the sordid act, the armourer is being tried for negligent conduct.

Katsina said: “It is true that I ordered the arrest, detention and interrogation of four serving policemen of this command for allegedly renting one of the rifles assigned to them to dare devil kidnappers.”

According to the CP, all the police officers, including the armourer, arrested in connection with the sordid finding are now facing orderly room trial.

He said: “I have constituted a panel to try them. They have been given the opportunity to explain and anybody found to be involved in the crime would be made to face the full weight of the law.”

Giving a graphic account of how the police recovered the weapon from fleeing kidnappers, Katsina said the command’s Ambush Squad gave a hot chase to a gang of kidnappers and in the process, they abandoned the gun in their operational vehicle and ran away.

“When the vehicle was thoroughly searched, the AK-47 rifle belonging to the command was recovered. We traced the point of issue to New Owerri police division and that is how the armourer came into the picture,” the CP said.

Katsina said policemen are given weapons to protect the citizens and not to use it to terrorize the people they are supposed to protect.

“The four were officially assigned the weapons for guard duties. The other three policemen never reported to anybody that their colleague whose weapon was later recovered from kidnappers, was not reporting for duty” the CP said.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the four policemen were posted to the residence of a retired CP (names withheld), while Katsina has since reported the incident to the Inspector General of Police.

www.vanguardngr.com/2014/01/5-policemen-detained-renting-rifle-kidnappers/

Good work by the CP, especially for fully exposing them and reporting the case to the IG.

The society would be a lot safer without moles in the Police force. I won't be surprised if one of them was doing more than just renting out the guns to criminals. These guys could be the kidnappers themselves! Cheii. . . just like the reality in Yoruba movies.

jassie: Good work by the CP, especially for fully exposing them and reporting the case to the IG.

The society would be a lot safer without moles in the Police force. I won't be surprised if one of them was doing more than just renting out the guns to criminals. These guys could be the kidnappers themselves! Cheii. . . just like the reality in Yoruba movies.

true talk, we ain't safe in this country. tht why I can neva trust any policeman

The CP should dismiss them from police for aiding and albeting crime, as they may be also the fleeing suspects and charge them to court immediately to serve as example to others of the follow criminals in uniform

Hmn. "Police is your friend" but you have to watch your back.

These Policemen should have known that life is more than just money, money & money. Its a pity they allowed the love of money to rule over their lives and conscience. Apart from dismissing them from the Police Force, they should be charged to court as well.

all policemen are the same, even i can't trust anyone one of them, renting guns to thieves like cars. Hmmm God help use o.

For any high profile shady deal that pulls through,there must be a police connection.

So am not surprised,most police officers are legalized criminals.

I don tire for Nigerian police o. Anyway Man must Chop

i no hear well

'They' give the weapons to the kidnapper.
The kidnapper nabs a civilian.
Civilian calls 'them' to rescue the victim.


Good Job CP. A great step in the right direction.

Btw. I'm on FP..........

When it comes to police matters i give up

listening 2 wizkid. I fit die on top ur matter

Speechless ...

Na today! They will be set free shortly. Abi no be Nigeria we dey. The only solution to these perennial problems bedevilling us as a nation, is sincerity in any capacity each of us finds himself.

Fr0nt page tinx. Lol

dancin azonto, first page tinz.

The rule of law is dead,..

Na so olokpa.?

ewey..

Exodus#2k:
The CP should dismiss them from police for aiding and albeting crime, as they may be also the fleeing suspects and charge them to court immediately to serve as example to others of the follow criminals in uniform

story..... Dey wud only be posted from from that state

op na today Police gun na like home video wey u fit rent naw,even bomb ask SEXKILLz,he go tel u..In policeman voice

Officer must wac...

You take people from the lowest echelon of society with little or no education and zero sense of National pride nor patriotism and Arm them after a very poor training session, Pay them peanuts with little incentives and give them the hardest, life threatening job of fighting criminals.. WETIN YOU EXPECT?!

Their Oga is living in a big mansion and they are made to stay under the Sun to protect him.

If they die in service, their families welfare is left to GOD alone.

If they get injured in the line of duty, their welfare package is meagre and even ontop of that, the money doesn not come regularly.






One day, they will snap and kill you..

_{What those officers did is bad, but can you truly say we are surprised?}

Good for them.

Police that should be protecting us are now against....... I wondered where dis naija they head to. I bow for u oo naija NPF

gbaskiboy: Police that should be protecting us are now against....... I wondered where dis naija they head to. I bow for u oo naija NPF

we are heading to aso rock....policeman wey tell me and my guys afta we give am change say dem dey rob 4 benin/ore road...he better make we sleep 4 hotel dat night..i con dey wonder,..guy see gun 4ur hand..d guy safe our life sha..Wen i hear News d next day.,d guy just be like angel

wow.. this is so sad.

Nawa oo. Dis world don dey end oo.

And they said that they are our friend. God save your people!

NPF (No Police Friend) watch your back.

POLICE IS YOUR FRIEND

Oloooooooooooooookpaaaaaaaaaaaaa. ;Dirty work.