The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris has inaugurated the
recently constituted joint investigative panel on the Dec. 10 legislative
re-run elections in Rivers.
The 15-man panel, headed by DCP Damien Okoro, consists of officers of the
police and the Department of State Services (DSS) with investigative,
forensic and technical expertise.
“The panel which is to conduct its investigation in conjunction with a
team from the Department of States Services (DSS) has the following terms
of reference:
“One, Conduct a thorough investigation into the role of security agents
before, during and after the election;
“Two, examine the role of any police officer or security agent whose
actions or activities individually or collectively was detrimental to the
good conduct of the elections;
“Three, conduct a forensic analysis on the audio report released by Sahara
Reporters as it concerns the election.
“ Four, examine any other matter that is relevant to the conduct of the
elections, and make recommendations and implementation strategies to guide
future elections.’’
He also charged the panel to probe the violence that marred the exercise
in which two police officers were gruesomely murdered.
He noted that the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws empowered the
police to conduct investigations into criminal matters across the entire
country.
The I-G gave the committee 30 days with effect from Dec. 17 to submit its
findings.
Idris said that four suspects had so far been arrested in connection with
the murder of two officers, while two rifles had been recovered.
The I-G said that the police was an apolitical organisation that must not
get involved in politics, adding that its interest was to ensure
hitch-free elections.
He solicited the support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians,
especially INEC and the Rivers State Government, to enable the panel
succeed in its assignment.
Responding, Okoro, thanked the I-G for the confidence reposed in the
committee, adding that they will be guided by relevant extant laws in the
discharge of the assignment.