- …. DIG Sanusi Lemu leads Police Intervention Team
The Nigerian Police say 20 suspects have been arrested over weekend’s attack on travelers who were returning to Ondo State after attending the Annual Zikr programme of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Bauchi State.
The travelers who are Muslims were allegedly profiled by some Irigwe youths who besiege the Jos-Kaduna highways before attacking them.
Police spokesperson and Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has also ordered the immediate deployment of Police Intervention Team to the State.
The statement added that 33 victims have been rescued while the IGP enjoined citizens in the affected area(s) to support the security forces deployed to the hotspot by providing useful information that will lead to the arrest of other perpetrators of the crime and forestall any further attack.
“The team is to carry out on-the-spot assessment and ensure enhanced, coordinated response to protect the community and boost public confidence in the affected area(s) of the State,” the statement read.
The deployment follows the unfortunate attack on innocent citizens in Rukuba Community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday 14th, August, 2021.
The Police Intervention Team is led by DIG Sanusi Lemu, mni, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration who is also the coordinating DIG, North-Central geo-political zone. The Team comprises personnel of Police Tactical Units – the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, amongst others deployed to protect the communities, prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. Also deployed are investigators and covert operatives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB). The operatives are expected to provide additional investigative, intelligence and forensic support to the Plateau State Police Command in the ongoing investigations and rescue operations.
The IGP, while condemning the incident, has called for calm and assured victims and relatives of the attack that the Police are working with the military, other security forces and the State Government to ensure that all perpetrators of the unfortunate incident are brought to book.