Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, yesterday said the Nigeria Police would no longer give escorts to banks that do not have bullet/bomb proofed bullion vans.
The order may be in reaction to an incident in Abia State, where the remains of three policemen were discovered in a bullion van belonging to a commercial bank (names withheld), after armed robbers attacked them and made away with the cash in the van.
Okiro, while briefing officers from the rank of commissioners of Police and above in his office, decried the ploy by banks to misinform the Nigeria Police that they had bullet-proof vans, while all they use are ordinary vans.
He said, �I want to express my sadness over the death of three policemen yesterday, after an attack by armed robbers in the bullion van they were escorting. I will not give my policemen to banks on escort again, until it has been established that such vans are bullet and bomb proof.�
Okiro said �situation where banks will be using ordinary vans as bullion vans and put the lives of our men at risk would no longer be tolerated. From October, if any bank asks for police escort, commissioners of Police in charge of state commands must ensure that such banks are using bullet and bomb proof bullion vans.�
Else such requests are turned down. The three policemen were found caged and killed in the van and no help was rendered to save their lives. Henceforth, I will be holding responsible, the Commissioner of Police in charge of any state where police men are attacked or killed in bullion vans.�Also yesterday, the Acting Ispector General of Police called for the nominal roll of men and officers of all police commands across the nation.�There is need to address over-congestion of officers in some commands as some have no establishment or staff disposition list. During my tour, I found out that some officers have been stagnant in their ranks for years while some have overstayed in certain divisions/commands. Some officers and men are attending school illegally to the detriment of their duties, while some others engage in illegal duties without being detected. I want the Commissioners of Police to furnish the nominal roll of corporals who have served three years and above, police constables who have served five years and above and so on. The issue is not ranks but proficiency in holding arms, but we want to ensure that promotions are done as and when due. But we don�t want to give an open cheque to Commissioners of Police just like that Due process must be followed.�
Sep282007