By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has warned supporters of the different factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against threatening public peace and security, just as he promised that culprits would be dealt with.
Arase in a press statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olabisi Kolawole, yesterday, in Abuja, said:
“Intelligence at the disposal of the Force leadership indicates that some aggrieved factional leaders and members of the PDP have perfected plans to engage thugs from across the country to join them in threatening public peace and security in Abuja.”
According to the statement, the planned protest is sequel to the on-going intra-party leadership crisis and further fallout of the recent political engagements of the party.
The IGP warned all actors in the crisis as well as their loyalists to refrain from any act that “may threaten public order as the police shall deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group in line with their legal obligations.”
The statement said the intelligence also revealed that: “The plan of the brains behind this development is to infiltrate Abuja and attack the national headquarters of the PDP with intent to forcefully occupy the facility.
“Towards perfecting this criminality, credible Police sources confirm that, the actors will mobilise into Abuja with effect from Monday, May 23, 2016, and they intend to march through major streets in Abuja before proceeding to the PDP Secretariat to manifest their intention.
“Consequently, the IGP has directed the deployment of police assets to secure the PDP secretariat and protect the staff until the threat to internal security that is being occasioned by the intra-party crisis within the PDP is stabilised.”
