[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


...Enforce Routine Search On Traditional Rulers

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
March 24, 2004
Posted to the web March 24, 2004

By Daniel Ior
Makurdi, Benue
Special privileges accorded traditional rulers which prevent them from being
subjected to stop-and-search order of the police have been withdrawn, as the
Force adopts new offensive against illegal arms and the rising crime wave in
the country.
Similarly, the police have reduced its office staff strength by 50 per cent, to
beef up the number of men deployed to fight crime.
Under the new order, the police have been told that they can now stop and
search any traditional ruler, irrespective of his status.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, made this known in
Makurdi, during a tour of zones 4 and 9 of the Nigerian Police.
The measure, the DIG said, is designed to facilitate the efforts at recovering
illegal arms as well as reduce the rising crime wave in the country. He said
the police are now empowered to carry out frequent and more regular raids, a
development, that would enable it to fight crime better.
While addressing officers and men of the Benue State Police Command, Ehindero
said: "from now, there would be no self recognition of traditional rulers. All
of them without reservation can now be stopped and searched at any time."
On the part of the Police, he insisted that they know the bad eggs within their
fold and should not hesitate to fish them out. "The bad eggs among us must be
revealed," he urged.
He, admitted that part of the problems militating against effective check on
the rising crime wave include inadequate materials, arms, transport and
communication, among others, advising them to learn to make do with what they
have.

   

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