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ILE-IFE VIOLENCE: Why we arrested only Yoruba suspects, IGP replies Afenifere, OPC, others

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OZUBULU KILLINGS: Police probes mystery shooting, finally invites 'Bishop' for questioning

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has explained that his men arrested only Yoruba suspects in the recent clash in Ile-Ife, Osun State because “crime has no tribe.”

He said, “You know we are police officers. Crime has no tribe. If you are a criminal, you are a criminal. Crime has no face. We don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from.

“As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting, we apply the law.”

Idris, who noted that investigation into the cause of the clash, had revealed that the crisis started with a disagreement between two people selling food along the road, however did not say if the investigation did not reveal involvement of any Hausa indigene in the crime.

The IGP made this justification on why only Yoruba people were arrested in a clash that occurred between them and some Hausa people when he addressed State House correspondents in Abuja immediately after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situations in parts of the country.

Following the clash that involved Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani people in Ile-Ife, which police claimed resulted in the deaths of 46 persons, 20 suspects, mostly Yoruba indigenes, including a monarch were arrested and paraded in Abuja.

The IGP’s statement comes in the wake of complaints that no Hausa/Fulani suspects have been picked in relation to the clash by the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), among other Yoruba groups and individuals.

They contend that the police action is biased, and have made calls bemoaning the police action, demanding for justice to be done in the matter.

Read also: ILE-IFE VIOLENCE: OPC fingers ex-Gov Kwankwaso in arrest of Yorubas

Meanwhile, also speaking on the recent massacre in Zaki Biam, Benue State, Idris said he has deployed police special units to ensure the arrest of one of the men declared wanted in connection with the case.

He said, “We have deployed Mobile Police Unit on 16th of this month and of recent that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations on that Gana, one of the wanted man. This man has been in the police wanted list and I now decided to deploy some special unit both investigative to go after him and get him by all means.

He absolved Fulani herdsmen of having a hand in the Zaki Biam massacre.

“I don’t think its Fulani herdsmen. It was an activity of a criminal who is using some of his criminal gangs in the state to harass people. I have assured the governor when I met with him few days ago,” he said.

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