TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said the security aides attached to Willie Obiano, Anambra governor, were never withdrawn.

Jimoh Moshood, police spokesperson, said the aide-de-camp and the chief security officer of the governor only went for a lecture and returned on the same day.

Moshood’s statement contradicts the position of Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, who had said the governor’s aides were withdrawn to prevent the repeat of a situation where an ADC was seen escorting a vehicle loaded with arms on election day.

Idris’ comments had come after Obiano had raised the alarm that his life was in danger over the withdrawal of his aides.

The governor’s outcry had prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to order the reinstatement of his security aides.

Issuing an official reaction on Thursday, the Force spokesman said: “The true position of the matter is that the Aide-De-Camp or any other Police Officer attached to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State was not withdrawn.

“On Tuesday, 14th November, 2017, the ADC and CSO to the Governor were called to the Police Command Headquarters in Awka to attend IGP’s lecture with all other Police Personnel deployed for the Election, which was also attended by the Heads of other Security and Safety Agencies participating in the security arrangement for the election under the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the State. The ADC and CSO returned a few hours later after the lecture, same date, to their duty posts in Government House, Awka, Anambra State.”

Moshood further said 221 police officers were attached to the governor, comprising an ADC, a CSO, one unit commander from 45 police mobile force ( PMF) and an administration officer to administer the police personnel.

Others, he said, are 43 personnel of PMF, from 29 PMF and 54 PMF; 62 personnel of PMF from 45 PMF, 46 Personnel of special protection unit (SPU) and 66 personnel of conventional policemen.

Moshood said the police personnel attached to Obiano were more than the strength of some police area commands in some states.

“This is done to ensure optimum safety and protection of the Executive Governor of Anambra,” he said.