Insecurity Over Nationwide Spike In Robbery, Kidnapping

There are fears nationwide over surge in armed robbery and kidnapping incidents. Some observers have blamed the police high command for the development, following its dismantling of the dreaded Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Special Tactical Squad (STS), a fallout of the alleged drug deal by former IRT commander, DCP Abba Kyari. Also, some security experts and officers kicked against the disbanding of IRT and STS satellite offices and bases.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba is not the first police boss to dismantle the two tactical units. In 2020, IGP Mohammed Adamu had ordered the disbanding of formations, as part of moves by Force Headquarters to reposition the security organisation for greater accountability. Adamu said then that integration of IRT and STS into Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), headed by Ibrahim Lamorde, was meant to improve efficiency.

According to a signal sighted by newsmen then, the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) in charge of IRT (Abba Kyari) and (STS) Yusuf Kolo were directed to ensure that all bases and offices outside Abuja were shut down with immediate effect. Operatives in the units were ordered to report to Abuja.

Few months after the pronouncement, spike in violent crimes led to their reopening. The fears expressed by some policemen and Nigerians at the time is now obvious, especially after the bloody bank robberies at the commercial town of Uromi, Edo State.

Suspected daredevil armed robbers had attacked two new generation banks and two old generation banks, shooting sporadically and carting away an undisclosed amount of money.

Seven persons, including two police officers, were reportedly killed in the incident. Friends and families of Mubarak Sulayman, who was killed when armed robbers attacked a bullion van around the Idi-Ape area of Ibadan, are still mourning.

During the Ibadan attack, the robbers killed two police officers, two civilians, and made away with an unspecified amount of money.

Two members of a three-man armed robbery gang were lynched in Lagos few weeks ago. The suspects, eyewitnesses said, specialised in terrorising Okoko, Igbolerin, Iyana Isashi and environs. They were caught during a robbery operation at Mechanic Bus Stop along Badagry Expressway.

Commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway are said to be currently in fear of being kidnapped, following reports of several abductions on the road.

It was learnt that the kidnappers on Saturday, January 8, 2022, abducted five passengers, while another person, Ibrahim Tiamiyu, was shot in the thigh.

Days after the last operation by kidnappers on the highway at Onigari axis, the bandits struck again on Saturday, January 15, 2022 and kidnapped three persons at Ishara-Remo axis in Ogun State.