The Police Service Commission (PSC) has called for sanctions against the Commissioners of Police in Imo and Delta States following the killings of several police officers. The commission expressed concern over the increasing number of killings in some states and urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reassess the competence of the Commissioners of Police in state commands.
According to reports from Prime 9ja Online, an ambush in Ohoro Forest, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta, resulted in the deaths of no fewer than six officers of the Nigeria Police Force a few days ago. Additionally, six other officers were declared missing in action.
In a separate incident, two policemen attached to MOPOL 18 in Owerri, Imo State, were killed on Saturday by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network. The assailants attacked the police patrol van in which the deceased officers were travelling in the Okigwe area of the state.
In response to these incidents, Solomon Arase, the chairman of the PSC, issued a statement condemning the new wave of killings of police officers on official duties. He stressed that these officers are also Nigerians who deserve the support, encouragement, and protection of the citizens.
Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, emphasised that there must be consequences for what he described as "avoidable incidents". He suggested that any State Commissioner of Police found to be incompetent, derelict, or operationally or tactically porous should be removed to prevent further police casualties.
Arase expressed his condolences to the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, over these unfortunate developments, particularly at a time when all efforts should be focused on ridding the nation of militancy and banditry. He said, “We have had more than a fair share of these ugly developments in recent time. I hereby call for an integrated intelligence policing."
The PSC chairman also extended his sympathies to the families of the slain officers and noted that it is time for state Command Commissioners to rise to the occasion. He encouraged serving officers not to be demotivated by these tragic developments but to rekindle their indomitable fighting spirit that the force is known for in order to ward off the new wave of assaults.