- Musa Kimo, the Akwa Ibom commissioner of police, has denied direct police involvement in the state House of Assembly crisis
- Kimo said the police under his watch will always provide level playing ground to everybody in the state
- The commissioner urged politicians and their supporters in Akwa Ibom to embrace peace or explore legal options in settling their difference
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, has denied police direct involvement in the state House of Assembly crisis which started on November 19.
Kimo said this on Wednesday, November 28, while addressing newsmen on another crisis which occurred on November 27 at the Assembly.
According to him, the police under his watch will always provide level playing ground to everybody in the state.
The CP also warned politicians and their supporters in Akwa Ibom to eschew violence, thuggery and other vices, but embrace peace or explore legal options in settling their difference.
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Kimo admonished those with issues that could lead to the break down of law and order to approach courts of competent jurisdiction to settle their matters amicably.
“We will not be partisan, but fair, just and responsible; above all, we will be professional in the discharge of our duties.
“We will provide level playing ground for everybody; we are here to save life and property, the police cannot do it alone; we need the cooperation of law abiding citizens of the state,” he said.
Kimo, the 25th commissioner of police in the state, who assumed duty on Nov. 23, also acknowledged the peaceful nature of the state.
He said without the sustenance of such atmosphere, the state would not achieve the desired development.
The police boss assured that the police would not be partisan, but would be fair, just and responsible in the course of carrying out their duties in Akwa Ibom.
“Peace is important and desirable, especially at this point in time; without peace, we cannot actualise our dreams.
“We will abide with you and we plead that you abide with us. It is unfortunate the way and manner politics is being played. We appeal to politicians and their supporters to eschew violence, thuggery; look for peace and be orderly and do things according to law.
“We are for everybody. I am here to serve, unfortunately so many unsubstantiated information is being peddled. I am pained by this; we are human, but it’s unfortunate. I can tell you as time goes on, you will know who I am and the police under my watch,” he said.
Kimo also responded to allegation of his men leading the five sacked House members to the assembly.
“It is totally false, in what way, mind you all the House members have police men attached to them, this is not peculiar to Akwa Ibom state only.
“For us the police, for now we have no right to prevent ‘A’ or ‘B’ from accessing the House, it is only the court that can direct, court of competent jurisdiction. I did not send any police man to the assembly, do you know that, if we did not deploy police to stay, not far from the assembly, possibly by now the structure might not have been there.
“Unfortunately, people do not appreciate what we do, we should be encouraged especially when we are doing the correct thing.
“I appeal to Akwa Ibom people to be law abiding, if anyone has problem, we have law in this country; what we need is legal options, it is always the best, two wrongs cannot make a right,” he said.
He said the police arrested only one person with locally made pistol, saying that the allegation of seizure and release of 18 Ak47 and fake soldiers was not true.
“What I know is that one person was arrested with one locally made pistol, he is in the state CID and investigation is ongoing. That is what I know, that is the report I received and was briefed,” he said.
Meanwhile, some women from the state marched through major streets in the state, calling for the removal of the CP.
The protest was led by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Glory Edet, the PDP women leader in the state, Mrs Mmeme Akpabio, and a former Minister of Lands, Dr Akon Eyakenyi.
The protesters were also at the assembly complex to express their support to the state governor.
Addressing the women, the Speaker, Onofiok Luke, urged the women to continue to pray for peace and not be afraid, pleading that they should at all times rise to defend the hard won democracy.
PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
Legit.ng previously reported that in accordance to the order of the Senate on Thursday, November 22, operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have ended their siege on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
All entrances to the complex had been barricaded right from the morning of Tuesday, November 20. They are, however, opened as the police vacated the premises on Friday, November 23.
The police trucks and the anti-riot officers that had barricaded the road leading to the complex were no longer there.
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