Nigeria’s police boss orders manhunt for cop-killers

In a reaction to the killing of 12 policemen at Azuzama, in Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa state, South- South Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday in Abuja, ordered a massive manhunt for the police killers.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, had claimed that its fighters killed the policemen whose boat was ambushed, to teach the security forces a lesson for ignoring its warning.
At a meeting with his Police Management Team at the Force headquarters in Abuja, the police boss issued an order to the rank and file to hunt for the killers and bring them to justice.

Mr. Abubakar stressed that only the arrest and prosecution of the police killers will be the best posthumous honour that can be given to the fallen police men.

Speaking to journalists through the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, the IGP stressed that the police would stop at nothing to ensure that the killers were brought to book as soon as possible.

Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police

He also stated that following the frequent attacks on his officers and men, that the Force had devised a new standard of operations aimed at reducing fatalities and attacks on officers on duty.


He described the latest killing of policemen as a sad reminder of the danger faced by policemen while on national duty, noting that the country was passing through its most challenging period.

“The death of the 12 police officers on legitimate national assignment is sad, unfortunate and the police will stop at nothing to ensure that the killers are brought to book as soon as possible. The time is tough and the race against crime is tight, but with support from all Nigerians and all tiers of government,the police and other security agencies will restore national security soon,” he added.

On the progress made by the police so far in the investigation of Asadu’s murder, Mr. Mba stated that the police had recorded tremendous progress. He however declined to disclose details of the progress made thus far.