Hafis Ringim, Police IG
Barely a week after the 16/6 attack at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Hafiz Ringim, Wednesday denied earlier claim by his spokesman, Mr Olusola Amore, that the blast was a suicide bomb.
THISDAY had reported on Monday that the claim by the police authorities that the attack on the Force Headquarters was carried out by a suicide bomber was being disputed after an analysis of the CCTV footage.
Debunking the “suicide bomber” claim, Ringim told journalists that it was rather hasty for such claim, adding that until investigation was concluded, no one could state categorically what went wrong.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Amore, had on the day of the blast, told journalists that the explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber.
Ringim told the reporters that he was in their midst to correct the impression and analysis of the incident.
He said: “Let me start by correcting the report about the fact that it is suicide bombing. Investigation has not been concluded to confirm the motive as to whether it is suicide bomb or time bomb or otherwise. Investigation into the bomb blast is on course and when there is a development, members of the media will be updated about the investigation but you will be patient and not allow your report to jeopardise investigations.
"Let me correct the impression that I personally received the bomber in my residence and asked him to join my convoy as reported in the dailies. It is not true. This is spreading falsehood. I assure you of my continued cooperation in your efforts to give correct reports about happenings in any police formation.”
After reading his address, the IG said he would not entertain questions but promised to brief them again at the end of their deliberations. In the short address, which was hand-written, Ringim thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for visiting the scene of the bomb blast and paid tribute to the late ASP Nangor Dangtim, who he described as paying the supreme sacrifice to save all at the Louis Edet House of the Police Headquarters.
According to him, “First, I want to start by apologising to the invited members of the press and members of the public that are here for the delay in this address which is as a result of lots of activities. As you are aware, gentlemen of the press, this period is very critical to the Nigerian police. I want to seize the opportunity to condole (with) the country and the police force over the gallant loss of our people that lost their lives in the last explosion at the Force Headquarters, here in the FCT.
"Particularly, I want to condole (with) the family of ASP Dangtim that lost his life in order to save us all.
“We invited you here to share the experience of the last bomb blast as well as to afford you the opportunity of having a first-hand look at the totality of the damage caused by the blast and also draw some lessons. In this regard, I want to seize the opportunity to graciously thank Mr President for according us his personal visit to this headquarters and for his kind words. I also want to thank Her Excellency, the First Lady, for her visit to our ladies in POWA.
“As senior police officers of the Nigeria Police Force, we invited you to this meeting because of your years of experience in law enforcement. We sincerely believe you have a lot of contribution to make to our efforts to chart the course. The last blast was certainly a big wake-up call and we must rise to the challenge.”
Meanwhile, in his bid to tackle the insurgence of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in the Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has unveiled a plan to provide over 100,000 jobs for the youths through the establishment of export free zone at Gamborun Gala which is a border town to Cameroon and Chad.
Shettima, who said military solution was not the only option for fighting insurgency which is the bye product of poverty, said: “We are ready to commit whatever resources that are needed to see to its fruition, We have to open new frontiers of fighting poverty, hunger and disease in our environment.”
According to the governor, “The Gamborun Gala where we want to set up the new export free zone is one gate way area of infiltration by undesirable elements and all sorts of misfits so by opening another frontier of commerce, we are going to create jobs, employments and fight poverty and is a very good diversionary means.”
He said the state was exploring ways through commerce which would see to the creation of about 50,000 to 100,000 jobs in the area.
He therefore called for the cooperation and partnership of Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) and stressed that there would be conscious and deliberate efforts to see that the project comes to fruition in a short time.
“I wish to solicit your cooperation and assistance so that together we can take our state and the nation to the Promised Land. I believe we can do it. If the Dubai people of this world could do it, we have the intellectual capacity, the resources and the people that can really make this country work for all of us,” he said.
Managing Director of NEPZA, Mr. Shina Agboluaje, said the project was good for the people of the state, adding that President Jonathan would also be happy to grant the request as the intention falls in line with his desire to create jobs in the country.
Agboluaje noted the long years, which the Banki Free Zone project had been lying comatose before moves by the state to continue the project.
He explained that such zones, which had been proven to be viable in the states that had fully developed them, urged the governor to throw his whole weight behind the decision to resuscitate the centre and fully develop it.
The NEPZA boss promised to give all the needed support to the state government to make the dream come true within the nearest future, adding that Jonathan was favourably disposed to granting every needed approval to encourage such initiative.
He said: “These locations you are suggesting to site the free zones will also help the country economically in formalising our trade with our neighbouring countries because most of the trades that go on between Nigeria and Cameroon in those parts of the North are not documented and I am sure this falls in line with the government’s trade policy.”
He pointed out the potentials of a free zone which he said could be verified from what is happening in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) where the free zone had assumed a global status.
Locally, he said states in the Southern part of the country were taking the cue and tapping the opportunities inherent in such projects and were even clamouring for the opportunity to create more, while the Northern states were yet to pick up except for about two which were not operating at optimal level.
Source : Thisday Newspaper
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