The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has removed Ali Janga as Kogi State Commissioner of Police.
His removal followed the escape from detention two major suspects and four others in the case of alleged illegal possession arms against Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West in the National Assembly.
Janga is to be replaced by a Police Commissioner with Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Sunday Ogbu.
Announcing the removal of the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said the Inspector General of Police was not satisfied with the circumstances surrounding the escape of the suspects.
The Commander FSARS in the state, the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division, Lokoja and other Police officers implicated in the escape have also been transferred out of the state.
They are said to be facing disciplinary actions.
Also, 13 police officers have been detained and are facing investigation.
READ ALSO: Illegal possession of arms: Suspects who named Melaye, Audu escape
“Furthermore, on the order of the IGP, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team and Special Tactical Squad, Personnel of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department have already arrived in Kogi State to work with the Police personnel in the state for immediate re-arrest of the escaped suspects.
“They are to also carry out detailed investigation into the escape and bring all those involved to justice.
“The Force wishes to implore the good people of Kogi State to remain calm and assist with useful information to the Joint Police Investigation Team. They can report any information they have on the escaped suspects to the nearest Police Station in the state or any other state in the country,” the police boss said.
It would be recalled that Janga had earlier in the day announced that Kabiru Seidu, alias Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, alias Small, who named Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu as their gun suppliers, escaped from police custody.
He said they escaped on Wednesday morning along with four others – Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed – who were held over the same case by the police.
Their escape occurred on the day they were to be arraigned before a Lokoja Federal High Court alongside Melaye and Mohammed Audu, their alleged sponsors.
Janga, who gave the information at a press briefing in Lokoja, however said that 13 policemen, comprising five operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and eight conventional policemen on duty when the incident happened had been detained for interrogation.
He added that the names of the suspects had been sent for watch listing by the Interpol for immediate arrest anywhere they are found.
The police boss also appealed to members of the public to furnish the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
