The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the order given by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on arrest of petroleum hawkers was targeted at those hoarding and diverting petroleum products.
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, the Nigeria Police explained that “further to the Nigeria Police Force directives on the activities of unscrupulous elements who engage in illegal sale of petroleum products, there is need to make some clarification that the directive was specifically targeted at those who are involved in hoarding and diverting the petroleum products.
“However, those with genuine intention to use the products for their legal and genuine business are allowed to purchase the products.”
The IGP emphasized that no stone will be left unturned by the Police to checkmate those with the attitude of causing discomfort to the innocent citizens in the country.
Recall that Arase had directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and FCT/State Commands Commissioners of Police to arrest anybody found selling petrol and other petroleum products in plastic container.
The IGP said apart from the hardship this act is causing to fuel buyers, it has also rendered some innocent and law abiding citizens homeless due to fire outbreak from jerry-can petrol storage.
The IGP had noted that fuel products such as petrol are highly flammable and if not stored and handled properly, can seriously endanger people, property and the environment.
Similarly, the Inspector General of Police IGP Solomon Arase has disclosed that between January 2014 to December 2015 278 police officers paid the supreme sacrifice in the discharge of their statutory mandate in relation to enhancement of community peace and security in the country.
According to him, 194 others sustained various degree of injuries while between January to April 2016 72 police officers lost their lives even as he said 78 others were injured in the line of internal security duties.
He also noted that cases of killing of police personnel have increased since 2009 due to terrorist attacks by Boko Haram.
The IGP made the disclosure in Jos while speaking on the topic,” Police-public partnership in prevention and control of violent crimes and conflicts in Nigeria organise by the advancement office of the university of Jos.
He added that in order to performed its function effectively of preventing and controlling crimes, the police require diverse skills noting that the work of police became more difficult in societies like Nigeria where there is mutual distrust between the police and the public.
Source:Leadership
