The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the clash between the security aides attached to Governor Nyesom Wike and Mr Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, revealed the decision of the police boss on Monday during his appearance on Channels Television’s State of the Nation.
“The Inspector General of Police has directed a thorough investigation into the incident that happened in Rivers State over the escorts that have infractions on the road,” he said.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with the two personalities having police protection in the first place.”
The police decision came two days after what was supposed to be a routine inspection exercise by Governor Wike turned controversial when his convoy came head to head with that of Mr Amaechi at Nwanja junction in Trans Amadi area in the state capital.
A clash occurred after men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) attached to Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, reportedly knocked down Wike’s escort rider apparently in a way to make way for the former governor.
The tension was, however, heightened when some of the SARS operatives allegedly cocked the guns, resulting in the chief security detail to the governor physically chasing the men away.
Moshood, on his part, said the matter would not be swept under the carpet and that was why the IGP directed a thorough probe into the incident.
He said: “The result of the investigation will be made public and we will make every Nigerian know what has gone wrong and the directive of the Inspector General of Police will be communicated down the line.
“We want everybody to know that Police Force is a disciplined organisation and even in advanced countries, you will see an incident where people who work within the same organisation have a misunderstanding; but the quick intervention of the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State equally saved the day.”
The police spokesman further warned against circulating false reports after the incident, saying what happened in Rivers State does not portray the performance of the force.
He maintained that erring officers would be made to face the consequences of their actions, adding that the police will not overlook the incident.
“People with ulterior motives are trying to create unnecessary sensationalism in this regards; the Police Force is a disciplined organisation,” Moshood said.
“Where one or two officers err, that does not mean that is the total reflection of the performance of all other officers in the force – so this matter will not be swept under the carpet, it will be thoroughly investigated and we will keep the public posted.”
