It was like a movie scene as 15
policemen, in a command-like fashion, invaded the official residence of
Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor Chibuike
Amaechi, to effect the withdrawal of his security men.
They claimed to be acting on the orders of Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Mbu and the state government have been
at loggerheads as a result of which even the national assembly has
authorised Inspector General of police Mohammed Abubakar to redeploy
him. But he has declined.
The two policemen attached to Okocha’s
residence opposite the Rivers State Government House were withdrawn. The
invading policemen created a scene in the process, claiming they were
under instruction to also withdrawn policemen on escort and guard duties
with Okocha and the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG),
George Feyii.
It was learnt that when the 15 policemen
got to Okocha’s official residence, they kept banging the gate, holding
everybody in the expansive premises hostage, in a war-like situation.
The private security men and the two
policemen being withdrawn initially thought they were to be killed and
refused the invading policemen access to the building.
In the confusion, the security personnel
on guard duty at Okocha’s official residence moved to a safe point in
the compound, which made it impossible for the main gate to be
immediately opened.
Okocha said last night: “The Special
Protection Unit (SPU) of the Nigeria Police in Rivers State assigned
some policemen to my official residence and for escort, but Mbu has
withdrawn them and those with the SSG. We are left with only one orderly
each.
“No reason was given for the withdrawal
of the policemen. Before the withdrawal, I had three policemen on escort
duty and two policemen at my official residence. The two policemen
alternated day and night.
“My life is in danger. If anything goes wrong, Mbu should be held responsible. He does not pick my calls.
“There was pandemonium when the invading
policemen got to my official residence and they held everybody to
ransom. One of the private security men later opened the gate.”
The police signal of 9:55 am of October
24, 2013 (yesterday), from the SPU, which was obtained by The Nation,
had as reference number: CB/4001/B/Dept/SPU/Base 6 Rivers/Vol 1/149.
Copies of the signal were sent to the
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 6, Calabar; Compol,
SPU; SSQ, Abuja and the Compol B Ops.
The signal, titled: Orders and
Directives, read in part: “You are directed to withdrawal all Special
Protection Unit personnel posted on escort /guard duties attached to the
Secretary to the Rivers State Government and the Chief of Staff,
Government House, Port Harcourt, leaving only an orderly each, with
immediate effect. Ensure strict compliance please.”
No name was indicated on the signal, which bore “SPU Base 6, Port Harcourt.”
Rivers Police Spokesman Ahmad Muhammad was not available for comment.
Source: http://thenationonlineng.net
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