Kidnapping: Delta Assembly, PSC Disagree On N3.5bn Security Contract

Delta State House of Assembly is currently at war with the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Parry Osayande over what the House described as his alleged role in the release and redeployment back to the State of the indicted head of the Delta Anti-Kidnapping Task Force, CSP Dickson Adeyemi Osamwonyi.

Mr. Osamwonyi and six members of the squad were last April disarmed, arrested and flown to Abuja on the orders of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, for allegedly aiding and abetting kidnapping in the state.

It would be recalled that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was the one who officially confirmed the arrest of CSP Osamwonyi and 98 persons during a press briefing at the end of a State Security Council meeting in Government House Annex, Warri on April 4, 2012. That meeting reviewed the security situation in the state.

Osayande’s role provoked the state legislature, especially the member representing Sapele Constituency and Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Monday Igbuya, into exposing some clandestine contract dealings of the PSC boss and his son in the state, amounting to N3.5billion.

Irked by the recent kidnap and release of the Nigeria and Udinese midfielder, Christian Obodo in Delta State, Mr. Johnson Erijo, Deputy Majority Leader and member representing Isoko South Constituency 1, moved a motion on the floor of the House yesterday urging the House to condemn in its entirety the actions of Mr. Osayande in the return of the indicted CSP Osamwonyi to Delta State.

Speaking in support of the motion, Mr. Igbuya queried the interest of Osayande in the matter, accusing the PSC chief of suspected clandestine dealings with Osamwonyi.

Visibly angry, the Majority Leader specifically accused Mr. Osayande of paying back the state in its own coins because Delta State denied his (Osayande’s) son of a N3.5 billion security gadget contract.

Other members of the House who spoke in support of the motion expressed worries and fears over the release of the indicted police officer, and called for his immediate re-arrest, stating that he was “inexplicably released” following the alleged intervention of Osayande.

The lawmakers also alleged that Osayande is an in-law to the accused former anti-kidnapping squad head, and that he might have used his position as the PSC chairman to influence Osamwonyi’s release and subsequent redeployment to the state.

The lawmakers described Osamwonyi’s continued presence in the state as a security threat that would scare away foreign investors.

The motion, which was unanimously adopted, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Inspector General Police to re-open the investigation into the alleged involvement of the police officers, particularly Osamwonyi, in the cases of kidnapping in the state, adding that his release had in the past few weeks resulted in increase of kidnappings in the state.

Also, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressed concern over the release from custody of some police officers allegedly linked to the incidence of kidnapping in the State

The Governor, who voiced his concern when the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Asaba, explained that it became necessary as it coincided with the resurgence of kidnapping in the state.

According to him, there was a drastic reduction in the incidence of kidnapping during the absence of the police officers when they were apprehended and taken to Abuja, but stressed that soon after their release, the crime had peaked.

He said that Deltans had been agitated by the development and were requesting that the matter be re-visited and thoroughly investigated to ensure that justice was done

“The people of Delta State want me to send a message to you on recent happenings in the State and even the State House of Assembly deliberated on it. Few days ago, some persons, your police officers, suspected to be involved in kidnapping which were earlier apprehended, were released.

“What bothered us was that their release coincided with the recent upsurge in kidnap cases in the State…So, we want you to have a second look at that issue”, he added.

Governor Uduaghan, who commissioned 60 patrol vehicles and communication gadgets for the Delta State Police Command after the courtesy visit, commended the IGP for his foresight in removing road blocks from Nigerian roads.

He said though there were initial doubts when the road blocks were removed, the strategy adopted by the IGP in removing the road blocks helped to reduce corruption and bribery in the force and had stopped the menace caused by police officers on the roads.

“When the IGP ordered the removal of road blocks from our roads, there were a lot of doubts. But the strategy he adopted has shown that we do not need them. Indeed, we have come to realise that the road blocks were a menace”, he stated.

The governor clarified that the state government was not contemplating the use of local security as it believed the police could deal with criminality if properly motivated and funded.

While assuring that security agencies would continue to enjoy logistic support from the state government, Governor Uduaghan told his host that efforts were being made towards intelligence gathering, adding that he had held meetings with traditional rulers and other stakeholders to sensitise them on the issue.

Earlier, the IGP, Mohammed Abubakar said the vision and mission of Police management under his leadership was “to build a people-friendly police force that will not harass Nigerians, a police force that will say bail is free and is free.”

Even as he said efficiency was the keyword for the police in discharging its constitutional responsibility, Abubakar hinted that corruption had been reduced by 80per cent in the police since the removal of road blocks.

He assured Nigerians of their safety in the wake of daunting security challenges, pointing out that in keeping with his vision of transforming the image of the police, hoodlums engaged in criminality, including attacks on police stations and banks, were being arrested nationwide.

“I am committed and determined to change the negative image of the Nigerian Police Force in order to serve Nigerians better and l solicit your co-operation to achieve this task”, he added.

Speaking after presenting the vehicles purchased by the state government, to the IGP, Governor Uduaghan said the vehicles would enhance the effective patrolling of the entire state.

He disclosed that the process of procuring some Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the police was on and admonished politicians not to politicise criminality and the battle against crime in the state.

Receiving the patrol vehicles, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, thanked the Delta State Government for the gesture and called on other governors to emulate the Delta example.

The police chief warned officers and men of the command to be mindful of the code of conduct of the police and the need to desist from harassing members of the public.

The IGP, was accompanied on the visit by Delta state-born, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State ,Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba and other senior police officers.

R- L. Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Uzoma Dozie, Executive Director, Risk Management,Caroline Anyanwu, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr Alex Otti, wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi and Executive Director, Regional Business, South, Victor Ezenwoko, during Mrs Amaechi’s visit to the bank, recently.