Zamfara killings: Normalcy has been restored, situation under control -IGP

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Sunday debunked media reports by some section of the media that killings of helpless Nigerians in Zamfara State by alleged gunmen is getting out of hand.

The IGP, who paid an operational visit to Zurmi, Zamfara State where scores of people were reportedly killed by the gunmen on February 14, said that normalcy has since returned in the area and that people are going about their normal activities.

A statement by the Force PRO, Mr Jimoh Moshood, also quoted the IGP as deploying three additional Police Mobile Force units (PMF) and also dispatched a high powered Joint Investigation Team headed by Assistant Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) of the Force to the State.

The IGP has also ordered the arrest of the perpetrators and placed Commissioners of Police, their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police and all personnel of the Force in states contiguous to Zamfara State on red alert.

Accompanied by the AIG Zone 10, Sokoto and Commissioners of Police in the zone visited Zurmi Local Government Area, the IGP held a Stakeholders meeting which had in attendance traditional rulers, political office holders, Local Government chairman, hunters,farmers, village vigilante groups, the Fulani and Hausa Communities and other critical stakeholders.

Also present at the meeting were the Police Community Relations Community (PCRC), eminent persons forum, politicians and religious leaders.

The IGP also condoled with the Government and People of Zamfara State over the heinous act that led to the killing of harmless and innocent people and called for cooperation of all the people in the affected areas in supporting the Police to find a lasting solution to the killings and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, on the directives of the IGP, the Joint Special Investigation Team headed by Assistant Inspector General of Police Intelligence of the Force have proceeded to Zamfara State to commence immediately a detailed investigation into the killings. He will be assisted by the personnel of the Force Criminal Intelligence and
Investigation Department (FCIID), the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Scene of Crime experts and the Zamfara State Command Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department who are already on ground in Zurmi, Zamfara State.

The statement reads in part, “The Joint Police Investigation Team are under a definite and strict mandate to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of the killings, investigate the incident in totality with a view to unravelling the remote and direct causes of the unfortunate killings and prevent occurrence of such in the future.

“The Commissioners of Police and their Supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police and their personnel in the contiguous states to Zamfara State have been placed on red-alert by the Inspector General of Police; they have also been directed to cooperate with the investigation team from the Force Headquarters. They are also to without delay convey stakeholders meetings in their respective States to address previous and current conflicts and clashes between Farmers, Herders, Hunters, Local Vigilantes and other interest groups in their states.”