We cannot declare 27 missing policemen dead, says IGP

Twenty-seven policemen missing after insurgents attacked Gwoza, a town in Borno, in August, 2014, are yet to be declared dead, Solomon Arase, inspector general of police (IGP), said on Tuesday.

Arase explained that the police would follow its tradition of declaring officers that got missing in battle dead after the lapse of a period of time which he declined to give.

He was speaking after inaugurating the board of directors of the Nigeria police property development and construction company limited (NIPPDCC) in Abuja.

“About our colleagues, who are missing in Gwoza, there is a tradition in the police force,” he said.

“When officers are missing in battle, we do not declare them dead or missing until after a period has lapsed.

“So, we are still waiting for that period to lapse, and if we cannot find them after that time, then, we will formally declare them either dead or missing.”

Thirty-five policemen were declared missing on August 20, 2014, after insurgents attacked the town, where a police training school is located.

However, Emmanuel Ojukwu, police spokesman, later told journalists that eight of them were found, leaving 27 missing.

Earlier, Arase said the current police management was passionate about the welfare of the inspectors, rank and file, who were mostly operational personnel.

He added that the welfare of those categories of personnel needed to be given priority to ensure that corruption was stamped out of the force.

He announced that by next week, 36,000 officers would proceed on training that would lead to their promotion to the next rank.

“We have a social contract with our inspectors, rank and file,” he said.