A former Officer of the Department of State Services, Mr. Dennis Amachree made a startling revelation about the recent attack on the Imo State police headquarters and correctional center that took place on Monday, April 5.
Speaking on the incident during an interview with Channels TV, Mr. Dennis said the Police were warned thrice before the attack took place.
However, not long afterwards, another violent incident was reported at yet another State police facility in Ehite Mbano, Imo State by(safe to say an affiliate group of gunmen) where the police station was raze down and more prisoners were made to escape from custody.
Speaking further, Mr. Dennis suggested stated that the atacks could have been averted if the police acted upon the information they recieved.
“There is enough actionable intelligence; actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it,” he said.
“One week ahead of this particular event and 72 hours before the event and 48 hours before the event – so three times – the Nigeria police was informed that this was going to happen.
“Some suspects that were being geolocated around the area were found surveilling the prisons and the police headquarters.
“But you know, in our lackadaisical way, when the intelligence would come, they throw it by the side, and then of course when something happens, everybody runs around.”
Mr. Amachree said the DSS could not have acted on its own intelligence because it is not “a fighting force.”
“The actionable party is actually the police,” he said. “Because when they say a particular installation or facility is under threat, then the actionable party would go ahead to correct it.
“The DSS is not a fighting force. They have a protective department that is basically responsible for the security of persons, VIPS. But when it comes to fighting, they always liaise with sister agencies, either the police or the military.”
He stressed that “some people are just lazy to do their jobs” and advised that other states should learn from Lagos State.
“Lagos, the same intelligence has been coming around and of course they have been proactive.
“If it is happening in the North-East, it could happen in Lagos. (But) Lagos itself has taken proactive steps, especially when it comes to securing correctional facilities in the state. And I think that’s what other states should follow now because they can’t sit back and wait until it happens to them.”
Comments are closed.