The Commissioner of Police, Abia State command says the command will not hesitate to revisit the cases of suspects who were bailed temporarily in a bid to avert the outbreak of dreaded Coronavirus in the state.
CP Ene Okon E. who spoke to Newsmen in his office, reiterated that the command would not consign to oblivion the sins of law offenders who, according to him, were released in a bid to decongest the cells, as the various stations adhered to the lockdown order in the fight against the spread of the dreaded disease.
Fielding questions from newsmen, he said, “the Inspector- General of Police did not say no more arrest of people that committed heinous crime. The IGP said “don’t detain those with minor offences. He said suspects with minor offences should be granted bail. He did not say if anyone robs people you shouId not arrest that person, GP can never give that order. What he said was Suspects with minor offences should be granted bail.”
He revealed that the command had at the time being and in line the directives given to the various commands abstained from the arrest of citizens who indulge in minor unlawful activities, noting, “and we have put a temporary stop to the investigation of minor cases like malicious damage, assault and conducts likely to cause breach of peace.
“We put a stop to investigating those issues so that we would not arrest and detain more persons. But, it doesn’t mean that we will not revisit those cases.”
He who explained that there was a strict observance of the social distancing policy in the cells, hence the release of same and investigation of minor cases, however, insisted that suspects of some social vices such as kidnapping, armed robbery rape, among others cannot be released, as such he noted were capital offences.
“But you cannot tell us to release a suspect of kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, arson, car snatching. We cannot do that. Those are heinous offences that carry capital punishments.”
Meanwhile, he disclosed that the command had as at Tuesday, within the short period of lockdown order of the government, which was temporarily lifted, yesterday, impounded vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, numbering 170, 102 and 22, respectively, belonging to users who rebelled against the order.
430737 55051There is noticeably big money to understand about this. I suppose you made particular good points in capabilities also. 805796