Police IG bows to pressure, redeploys Imo CP

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun has bowed to pressure from the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, the Labour Party, and Civil Society Organisations by redeploying the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde out of the state.

Egbetokun made the development known Sunday night during a Channels Television programme, “Peoples Town Hall On Election Security.”

According to him, the police were not unaware of allegations of partisanship against the CP while noting that the move to redeploy him, however, was not that he had been found guilty as alleged.

Egbetokun said, “We are aware that there are allegations against the Commissioner of Police in Imo. Before the elections, we’re changing the CP. This is not to say the CP has been found guilty. But for neutrality’s sake, we’re changing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State.”

Recall that following the attack on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital last Thursday, the organised labour had issued a five-day ultimatum for the redeployment of Barde while threatening a nationwide strike which they said would commence on Wednesday.

On its part, the Labour Party had also expressed its support for calls made for the immediate redeployment of the CP and other officials allegedly involved in the recent attack on Ajaero in the state.

Ajaero, was attacked and brutalised in Owerri, on Wednesday, while he mobilised workers for a protest over their unpaid salaries.

Amidst the widespread outrage that followed the incident, the NLC and the TUC had accused the Imo CP of being complicit in the attack and threatened a five-day ultimatum for the federal government to replace him.

This was contained in a statement issued last Friday by the NLC’s Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale, and TUC’s Deputy President, Tommy Okon, who on behalf of workers gave the Federal Government a six-point demand.

The leaders of the union while to speaking to newsmen reportedly said:

“The NLC President was blindfolded and whisked away by security operatives in the state before intervention from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

“He was also beaten along with other workers with his phone seized, and journalists also maltreated with evidence shrouded away from the public.”

“The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, should not only be investigated and redeployed but should also be held accountable for his action on Ajaero.

“The Area Commander and the other officers who supervised the brutalisation of our President and other workers in Owerri should be relieved of their office and stripped of their commission.

“Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, Adviser on Special Duties who supervised the terror on workers and brutality meted out to Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, be arrested immediately and prosecuted for his crimes against workers and the President.

“We demand an unbiased and thorough examination of the President on the physical and psychological injuries inflicted on him. And all the properties lost be restored immediately.”

Following their demands and the support it received from other organizations such as the Labour Party, IG Egbetokun disclosed on TV that he has succumbed and redeployed the CP out of the state.

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