TheCable

Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, has revealed that some security personnel have been arrested for allegedly abusing internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Addressing reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, Idris said two policemen, three soldiers, one prison official, an air force officer, a staff of Borno ministry for agriculture and two members of the Civilian JTF, were among those arrested.

The Human Rights Watch had accused security forces and camp officials of sexually exploiting young girls and women in various IDP camps.

Following the report, Idris set up a special panel to probe the issue.

Speaking on the outcome of the panel, the IG said the police would liaise with the army and air force to make their men available for a thorough investigation.

Idris said after the investigation, any suspect found guilty of the offence would be dismissed and taken to court for prosecution.

“We are going to conduct a thorough investigation and if anyone is found guilty, we will dismiss him and then take him to court,” he said.

He said the police had put in place some mechanisms, including the deployment of female police officers to IDPs camp to check future occurrences.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the IG and governors of the concerned states to investigate the allegation.

On the Rivers re-run election, Idris said the force had begun the deployment of personnel in the state.

Idris, who declined to comment on the alleged withdrawal of the chief security officer (CSO) to Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, said the police had good working relationship with all the 36 governors.

He advised state commissioners of police to ensure that Nigerians were not subjected to hardships on the roads during the Yuletide.

“You should ensure that no hardship is created for citizens of Nigeria, try and ease movements on the roads,” he said.