Police, Military Clash: Culprits Will Be Punished – Minister

Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, has condemned the free-for-all bloody fight between some police and military personnel in the Northern region which has resulted in eight persons seriously injured.

He has revealed that the matter has been reported to the Minister for the Interior and the Office of the Vice President for appropriate sanctions to be meted out to the culprits.

He said : “They are going to investigate and some of the people who are misconducting themselves, even the leaders who cannot help us have peace here must all leave the region. I’m not ready to work with such people”.

Mr Saeed told Class 91.3FM’s Northern regional correspondent, Mohammed Gadafi, in an exclusive interview that government “will not tolerate any activities that will create heightened tension in the area and “as for the security people they are not going to be spared by their various heads at the national level. They are going to investigate the matter and appropriate sanctions and punitive measures will be charged against them”.

Some military personnel in the region went on a rampage attacking police officers in the area.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, 16 May 2018, following an attempt by a military personnel to escape from police custody.

A military man attempted to escape from the Regional Police Headquarters after returning from court on Wednesday.
He took to his heels and other military officers prevented police personnel on duty from re-arresting him, resulting in a free-for-all fight.

Some of the military men decided to beat up any police officer they identified. They also attacked cops stationed at various banks.

He condemned the actions of those involved and wondered why peace officers will be engaged in such violence and lawlessness.

“The incident that transpired between the police and the military is unfortunate. It is very embarrassing and I condemn it in no uncertain terms. It is very disgraceful because peace officers who are supposed to ensure peace, who are supposed to do everything in their power to support us to have peace they themselves are creating confusion” he stated.

He wondered why law enforcers will be “creating fear and panic, shooting guns everywhere indiscriminately”.

Mr Saeed said they were in a Regional Security Council (REGSEC) meeting to discuss peace interventions ahead of the Ramadan when he was informed that the police and military were engaged in a free-for-all fight.

“I called both the military and police commanders to call their people to put their guns down and stop that thing and call them and talk to them that all the military people should return to their barracks and the police too should call their men and women to [their] barracks and call them to order,” he noted.

He said the matter has been reported to the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Minister for the Interior, National Security Minister and the top hierarchy who has oversight responsibility over the police and military.