•Security beefed up in Benue over Mark’s alarm
Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase said yesterday that his men have the order to arrest ex-Niger Delta militant Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a court issued the warrant for his arrest.
Tomopolo was declared wanted by the EFCC in connection with a N45.9b fraud in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The IGP also said he had directed Benue State Commissioner of Police to increase security in the state following the alarm raised by former Senate President David Mark.
The IGP spoke in Abuja during a session with journalists.
Arase said: “We are still looking for Tompolo. The commissioners of police in Delta, Rivers and all those areas have been given the warrant for the arrest so that they could carry out the arrest.
“The EFCC has declared him wanted and you know the court has issued a warrant of arrest. So, it is the duty of the EFCC to publish him as a wanted person and it is our duty to ensure the arrest.
On David Mark’s allegation that his life is under threat, Arase said: “I read it in the newspapers but I have not seen the petition but I have asked the Commissioner of Police to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order as the election comes up on Saturday.”
The IG also said the Police have incurred over N800million as judgment debt.
He said: “As at the last count, we had a total of about N800million or close to N1billion in garnishee.
“We are trying to appeal against some of these judgments. We are also raising the argument that before you make the garnishee to be absolute, you must get the Attorney-General of the Federation’s fiat.
On the proposed recruitment of 10,000 men as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the IG said: “We want the recruitment to be state based because we want to encourage community partnership. If we want to encourage community partnership for instance, somebody from Kano who understands the language and culture, as a Constable, he will be able to serve better and gather information in that area after training instead of talking somebody from Lagos who does not understand the culture to go and dump him in Kano and then take a young boy who has not passed through Kaduna before to be dumped in the Southeast.”
