The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has said that his decision whether or not to appear before the Senate would be dependent on the outcome of his consultation with his legal team.
The IGP was summoned to appear before the Senate over sundry allegations of corruption against him by Senator Isah Misau, representing Bauchi Central.
This came Friday as Idris disclosed that about 21,000 Police officers would be deployed to Anambra State to provide security for the November 18 governorship election, as well as aerial surveillance with the use of speedboats and helicopter.
The IGP told State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that his visit was to brief the President about the security challenges in the country and how to tackle the development.
He said 3,000 suspected kidnappers arrested were already being held in various Police detention across the country and would soon be charged to court.
Explaining his mission, he said: “I am here as usual to discuss with the commander-in-chief on the security challenges we are having and how we will face these security challenges adequately.
“You know we are having elections in Anambra State and we are having challenges in various parts of the country, especially the issues of kidnapping, and these are things I discussed with the President and the measures taken to address it squarely.”
On what is being done to ensure adequate security during the Anambra election, the IGP said: “We are deploying a lot of Police officers, almost about 21,000, to be able to provide adequate security in the election.
“We are deploying our water boats to take care of the waterways and our helicopters to take care of the aerial surveillance, as well as our conventional policemen and special police units to take care of situations on ground.
“And by the grace of God, we are going to have a successful and peaceful election in Anambra.” On whether he would appear before the senate, based on its summon, he said: “These are legal issues, we are discussing with our legal team.
“Obviously, if there is need, we are going to appear, for the sake of having respect for the senate, I will appear before them.”
Regarding the security situation on the Kaduna-Abuja highway, Idris disclosed that special units have been deployed to the road and success already recorded, while several kidnappers have been arrested.
“I want to appreciate the effort of the National Assembly for providing sort of a death penalty for suspects arrested that are involved in some of these cases of kidnapping and I am sure that in some few weeks time, we are going to have drastic fall in the report of some of these incidences of kidnapping on those areas because of these punishment that has been made now by the National Assembly.
“We are taking them to court on everyday basis. Presently, we have almost over 3,000 suspects in the various Police stations all over the country and we are taking them to court.
“Recently, I set up a task force to sort of streamline or scrutinise these cases, so that we have speedy trial of some of these suspects.”
