The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has warned those planning to cause trouble due to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to have rethink because his men will ruthlessly deal with anyone caught fomenting trouble in the country.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Force spokesperson, Kolawole Adebisi, it was disclosed that “Intelligence at the disposal of the Force leadership indicates that some aggrieved factional leaders and members of the PDP have perfected plans to engage thugs from across the country to join them in threatening public peace and security in Abuja.”
It was disclosed in the statement that “this is sequel to the on-going intra-party leadership crisis in the party and further fallout of the recent political engagements of the party.”
According to the statement, “The plan of the brains behind this development is to infiltrate Abuja and attack the National Headquarters of the PDP with intent to forcefully occupy the facility.”
It was added that “Towards perfecting this criminality, credible Police sources confirm that the actors will mobilise into Abuja with effect from Monday, May 23, 2016 and they intend to march through major streets in Abuja before proceeding to the PDP Secretariat to manifest their intention.”
“Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the deployment of Police assets to secure the PDP Secretariat and protect the staff until the threat to internal security that is being occasioned by the intra-party crisis within the PDP is stabilised,” Kolawole stated in the press release.
She explained that “the police action is a proactive initiative which is being emplaced in furtherance to the statutory Mandate of the Nigeria Police to prevent breakdown in law and order and protect lives and property.”
She said that “the Inspector General of Police, however, warns all actors in the crisis as well as their loyalists to refrain from any act that may threaten public order as the Police shall deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group in line with their legal obligations.”
