Rivers: Nigeria Police dismiss 6 officers for aiding Wike’s wishes during election rerun
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed six officers who allegedly engaged in unprofessional conducts during the just concluded legislative election rerun in Rivers State.
The officers, namely; Inspector Eyong Victor and five sergeants, Peter Ekpo, Oguni Goodluck, Orji Nwoke, Tanko Akor and Okpe Ezekiel, were accused of misusing firearms and sabotaging the INEC during a collation exercise in Port Harcourt.
They had been acting on the state governor, Nyesom Wike’s orders, reports say.
Police spokesperson, Don Awunah, paraded the men in Abuja on Friday and disclosed they acted contrary to the stipulation of Force Order 237 and strict warning issued by the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim.
“These aforementioned police personnel while in the convoy of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on the date of election on December 10, 2016 misused the firearms in their possession contrary to the provisions of Force Order 237,” Awunah said.
“The personnel became overzealous, took laws into their hands and opened fire, causing panic in the crowd.
“They joined in storming the Port Harcourt City Council Secretariat and prevented the movement of election results of Emouha polling unit to the appropriate collation centre designated by INEC, in flagrant disregard and disobedience to senior police officers present at the venue.”
Awunah said the officers had been subjected to internal disciplinary measures and were only dismissed after being found culpable of compromise.
“They will be prosecuted under the Electoral Act to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.
“Their actions are capable of bringing the entire Nigeria Police Force to disrepute and portray the Force in a very bad light as a lawless organisation not guided by the rule of law.”
The election which held in Rivers December 10 was marred by violence and irregularities, with two officers brutally murdered.
Earlier, a recorded phone call, allegedly between Governor Wike and his Ekti State counterpart Ayodele Fayose, in which they celebrated Wike’s “triumph” over Nigerian Army leaked.
