*Disclaims aspersions on Military 

*Military denies accusations of lethargy, complicity on kidnappings

The Nigeria Police have disclaimed a video comments by one of its personnel, a Chief Superintendent of Police of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), attached to the Abia State Police Command, while on special duty at Umunneochi LGA of the state, following the kidnap of the Prelate of the Methodist Church, His Grace, Most Rev. Samuel Uche and some members of the community on Sunday 29th May.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement on Thursday said the Police dissociated from aspersions on security agencies by its personnel, and promised the Military that the erring officer will face disciplinary procedures of the Force for his “unguarded indiscretions”.  

Adejobi however, admitted that the officer was at the location to carry out a rescue operation, but added that he was led by an undisclosed Assistant-Commissioner of Police “and has no right to address the crowd in an unapproved and unprofessional manner, attacking a particular ethnic group and casting aspersions on other security agencies.

“He had no locus standi to address the press or any group of persons, as such is the sole responsibility of the Commissioner of Police, and the Police Public Relations Officer, or at least his superior in rank who was also at the scene. 

“His impetuous and unguarded statements expressly contradict salient provisions of the Social Media Policy, Police Act and Regulations, and Code of Conduct for Police Officers, as well as extant laws regulating the conduct and activities of police officers, “he said.

The police spokesperson noted that “the unguarded utterances of the individual do not represent the principles, ideals, position, and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force, and therefore Nigeria Policee Force dissociates itself in all entirety”. 

He revealed that the Inspector-General of Police acknowledges and will continually appreciate the robust synergy enjoyed over time from the military and other security agencies in maintaining internal security.

He equally restated the commitment of Police boss to ensuring that all and sundry have access to policing services without sentimental colourations.

*Army not complicit in the kidnap of Methodist Prelate

Meanwhile, the Army (NA) said they have been notified of the insinuation making the rounds on social media, alleging the complicity of troops of the Nigerian Army in the kidnap incident of the Methodist Prelate in Abia state recently.

“While the Nigerian Army expresses concern and sympathy for the victim of this heinous crime and shares in his pains, the insinuation that troops are complicit in the kidnap incident is not entirely premised on any findings of investigations and therefore cannot be swallowed hook line and sinker. 

“This allegation, therefore, raises some pertinent questions which are still unanswered,” Onyema Nwachukwu, Army Spokesman, said in a statement.

He added that given the spate of insecurity in the region, the question would be, “was the issue reported to the unit covering the area? 

“Did the Methodist Church take the NA into confidence while negotiating the ransom with the kidnappers? No formal complaint has been received by the unit. 

“More worrisome is the fact that it was alleged that the ransom was paid in less than 24 hours. Was the ransom paid to troops? These are questions that beg for answers.

“Moreso, the NA unit, has not received any debrief from the Prelate of the Methodist Church.

“It is, therefore, important to state that troops are deployed at forwarding Operating Base(FOB) Okigwe and in front of the Abia State University Uturu and no information was made available to them or to 14 Brigade or any other formation, except the information making the rounds in the social media.

“It must be clarified that troops’ deployment in the Nigerian Army is not done with considerations for ethnic affiliation, hence the deployment of troops of Fulani ethnic extraction who as alleged by the Prelate, carried out the dastardly act is not our practice or modus operandi in the NA”.

*To summon Bishop for questioning

“Given our professional disposition and zero tolerance for any misconduct in the Nigerian Army, we will take this weighty allegation seriously and approach the Prelate and the Methodist church to unravel the basis for the allegation,” he said.