Nigerians itching to know the fate of some suspected terrorists arrested by the police will have to wait for a while as the police high command on Tuesday stated that the police authority do not have “a definitive” number of suspects being held in connection with terrorism.
The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar stated this during a meeting with senior police officers and commissioners of police in Abuja.
Abubakar blamed the non passage of the anti terror law by the National Assembly as a big setback in identifying, classifying and prosecuting terrorists in the country.
He said: “As you all know, the Anti Terror bill is still before the National Assembly.
“This is why we cannot give a definitive number of the suspects we have.
“We know people want to know about this but we need to look into this so that we can have a definitive number of these suspects.”
The police boss therefore called on the National Assembly to pass the anti terror bill speedily so as to give the police the legal backing to label suspects as terrorists and subsequently prosecute them according to the law.
Abubakar also stated that a committee headed by a Deputy Inspector General of police will be appointed to look into the issue.
As a way of forestalling any breakdown of law and order during the festive period, the IGP also charged the police commissioners to take policing in their various commands more seriously and arrest all criminal elements.
Abubakar said: “Every Commissioners of Police will go back to their respective commands and ensure a hitch-free Christmas and New year.
“All these crime must stop wherever they are.
“Wherever they happen, they must stop.”
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