By Adewole Kehinde
“Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning,” – Benjamin Franklin
On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, launched a Special Intervention Squad (SIS) to tackle the activities of kidnappers terrorising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the nation at large.
Since its establishment, the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) has successfully apprehended sixteen notorious criminals and retrieved a sizable cache of weapons and ammunition, including a General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). These accomplishments are the result of the squad’s cooperative efforts with the Department of Force Intelligence, the Intelligence Response Team, the FCT Command Anti-Violent Crimes Section, the Anti-Kidnapping Section, and other state commands.
In response to IGP Egbetokun’s statement, where he reiterated that the Special Intervention Squad operation is more than a mere response and that it is a bold strategy aimed at dismantling the criminal networks entrenched in our communities, the Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, paraded arrested suspects on Saturday, January 20, 2024, namely Idris Ishaku, Bala Umar, and Dahiru Salisu, all Bwari-based kidnappers who have been responsible for a series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Area Council and other parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The arrest is a sign that the Special Intervention Squad is the answer to the incessant kidnapping and one-chances in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
I was told that in addition to the arrest, thirteen suspects were arrested for various other crimes.
The technical intelligence employed by the team also resulted in the foiling of another kidnapping plot, resulting in the arrest of the Bwari-based kidnappers and the recovery of weapons from them.
The most impressive is that of one Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael, who was arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command based on an alert from the FCT Police Command.
Many social media reports say that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael has been killed by the police, but that is not true, as I saw Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael laying on stretcher receiving treatment because of a gun wound.
I discovered that Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael and his accomplices had earlier been arrested sometime in November 2023 and charged for similar offences at the High Court, Kwali, Abuja, but went back to committing even worse crimes while on court bail.
This is where I want to call on the judiciary to review releasing kidnappers on bail, as the case of Chinaza Philip Okoye Michael is a good example of the dangers of releasing a dangerous kidnapper into society.
I also want to call on the Police Trust Fund through the Ministry of Police Affairs to release all necessary funds to the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) to sustain the tempo and improve the training and welfare of the personnel of the squad.
If the squad can achieve this feat through relentless operations within the shortest possible time, with more funding, the issue of kidnapping, banditry, one-chance, gunrunning, etc. will be a thing of the past.
To make sure that our nation becomes a safe place for us to live, I also urge corporate organisations and civic leaders to work together with the Inspector General of Police by supporting the Special Intervention Squad with funding, training, and other corporate social responsibility to sustain the squad.
Also, the community can assist the police in securing their community by encouraging neighbours to look out for one another and report any suspicious activity to the police, which is an effective way to prevent crime.
Community members should not hesitate to report any illegal or suspicious activity to the police. This can help law enforcement officers effectively respond to and investigate potential threats.
Building rapport and trust between the community and law enforcement can foster a sense of cooperation and collaboration, making it easier for citizens to share information and work with the police to address community safety concerns.
The police also need to provide educational opportunities and resources to help community members understand crime prevention strategies and how to stay safe, which can empower individuals to take an active role in maintaining a secure community.
By working together with the Special Intervention Squad, community members can play a vital role in keeping their neighbourhoods safe and secure.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached at 08166240846. E-mail: [email protected]
