Police counter Saraki, says it will remain neutral
The Nigerian Police Force has countered a statement made by the Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Saraki had accused the police force of providing cover for thugs who harass Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters.
The Senate President also alleged that the thugs went to his family quarters to destroy properties and injure people.
In its response, the police described Saraki’s statement as false, misleading and incorrect.
According to Vanguard, the spokesman of the force, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement issued to newsmen, said the police will continue to remain apolitical.
Read the full statement below:
The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a statement in the media credited to the Senate President on the recent political development in Kwara State where he raised allegations that “…the entire world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself.
The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the general Public.
The Nigeria Police Force did not give any protection to any political thug or shield any APC thug to go to family quarters of the Senate President in Agbaji, Ilorin and vandalize houses, shops and inflict wounds with machete on three (3) people as claimed by the Senate President. The Police did not receive any complaint or report of gunshot and wounding as claimed by the Senate President in other areas he mentioned such as Adewole/Adeta, Ile-otan and ubandawaki/pakata.
For avoidance of doubt, there was no complaint reported at any Police division within Ilorin metropolis or any other Police Division on the 10th January, 2019 to today 11th January 2019 of any attack, wounding, shooting and destruction of any property by any individual(s) or any political party on their members. However, Security within Ilorin metropolis and other locations in kwara State has beefed-up to ensure security of all Nigerians living in the State.
It is pertinent to state that all Police personnel attached to the person of the Senate President, his office and family are intact and all the statutory security protection on the person of the Senate President are also accorded him all the time and there was no complaint from the Senate President before now to the Police on this.
For avoidance of doubt, there was no complaint reported at any Police division within Ilorin metropolis or any other Police Division on the 10th January, 2019 to today 11th January 2019 of any attack, wounding, shooting and destruction of any property by any individual(s) or any political party on their members.
However, Security within Ilorin metropolis and other locations in kwara State has beefed-up to ensure security of all Nigerians living in the State.
It is pertinent to state that all Police personnel attached to the person of the Senate President, his office and family are intact and all the statutory security protection on the person of the Senate President are also accorded him all the time and there was no complaint from the Senate President before now to the Police on this.
The Nigeria Police Force is hereby assuring all Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has no any undisguised hostility to the Senate President or his supporters in Kwara State or to jeopardize or undermine his personal security and that of his immediate and larger family. The Force will continue to be apolitical and will ensure adequate security throughout the Country for all political parties, their members and supporters before, during and after the 2019 General Election.
Bukola Saraki has, on several occasions, described Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris as the most partisan head of the Nigerian Police ever in the country’s history.