The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has condemned the action of some soldiers who it accused of invading its station at Oro Ago, Kwara State to forcefully take custody of the eight rescued students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State.
The police accused the soldiers of not allowing proper handing over of the students when they ” over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students.”
Spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, DSP Ejire – Adeyemi Toun , stated this in a statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday on behalf of the state Commissioner of police, Victor Olaiya.
“This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable,” police said in the statement.
Police gave further insight to the incident by explaining that : “The students were rescued and taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters Oro-Ago in Kwara State in preparation for their onward movement to receive medical attention at the state capital Ilorin.
“However, on arrival at the station, the students appeared weak and in dirty clothing.
“Police operatives provided presentable clothes and breakfast.
“While making preparations for their onward movement to Ilorin, soldiers on convoy patrol with three operational vehicles stormed Oro-Ago police station, over powered the police operatives and forcefully took custody of the rescued students without proper handing over.
“This act is disrespectful to the force; totally unacceptable.
“The behavior of the soldiers is likened to act(s) unbecoming of an officer.
“And necessary actions will be taken to report their conduct to the higher authority.”
The statement said operation is still ongoing on land and air to smoke out the remnants of the deadly criminals who may still be hibernating in Kwara forest.
The statement said the Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya appreciated the IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun for swift and timely intervention and all other security operatives who have worked tirelessly to see to the successful rescue of the students.
“He further urged members of the public to always be vigilant and report any suspicious movement or activities of persons in time to forestall any untoward incident.
Olaiya then assured the people of Kwara State that he will not relent in getting rid of criminal elements from the State and has promised to emplace maximum security to protect the lives and properties of it’s citizens.
Meanwhile, the police have explained how the eight students of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State were rescued from their kidnappers .
DSP Ejire -Adeyemi Toun, Spokesman of Kwara State Police Command said in the statement that the students were rescued from kidnappers ” roaming kwara forest with the abductees. ”
She said the rescued students comprised five female and three male students.
She gave names of the rescued students as ;
1. ANATE HANIFAT OYIZA ‘F’ 19YRS.
2.DAMISA RASIDAT OMETERE ‘F’ 17YRS.
3.AHMED TIJANI FATIMAH (F) AGE 21YRS
4.OBAKACHI MASHKURAH ONYIOYIZA ‘F’ 17YRS.
5.OLORUNTOBA BLESSING KEMISOLA ‘F’ 23YRS.
6.OMOJO GODWIN ‘M’ 19YRS.
7.ABDULRAFIU ABDULMALIK ENESI ‘M’ 19YRS and
8. MUSA OSENI ‘M’ 19YRS.
The statement said the prompt action of the state Commissioner of police, Victor Olaiya, in mobilizing tactical teams from the command alongside tactical teams from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Police Hi-Tech Intelligence assets, the Military and Local Vigilantes led to the rescue the victims.
The statement also saids the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun also deployed the Air Wing Crew to conduct aerial surveillance with the aid of a helicopter.
“The Police Air Wing has been assiduously monitoring the forest around Ifelodun L.G.A where these criminals stationed for several days rendering the abductors incapacitated.
“The sustained combined efforts of the Police, the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Military, and Local Vigilantes, led to the successful rescue of 8 students,” the statement said.(vitalnewsngr.com)
