Raid: We are sorry, IGP Ibrahim Idris begs Clark

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has apologized to elder statesman, Edwin Clark over the invasion of his Abuja residence by four policemen.

The policemen and their informant who have since been arrested on the order of the Idris were said to be looking for arms kept in the residence of the Ijaw leader.

The Inspector General of Police declared that the raid was unapproved and tendered apology.

According to Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, a delegation led by the DIG Habila Joshak, who is in charge of operations at the headquarters, visited Clark to tender the apology of the Inspector General of Police.

Moshood said Joshak “apologized on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the IGP for the misconduct of the said Police Personnel and the attendant embarrassment the search has caused on the Elder Statesman and his family.”

He stated further:  “The delegation was received by Chief Edwin Clark and the apology was accepted by him.”

The elder statesman had, on Tuesday, demanded a public apology from the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the invasion of his residence.

The octogenarian former federal information minister threatened legal action against the police.

Counsel to the Ijaw leader, Kayode Ajulo, in a statement, condemned the action of the police, describing it as “uncivil and brazen.”

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“This afternoon, officers and men of the IGP Special Tactical Squad, a unit under the direct command of the Inspector General of Police, turned upside down the Asokoro residence of our client, Chief Edwin Clark on the pretext that they were in search for arms and ammunition,” the statement began.

“However, despite the siege and search, they found nothing incriminating our client.  Our client believes that the unfortunate reasons given by the Nigerian Police is just another figment of their wild imagination.

“The fact that a man of Chief Edwin Clark’s stature could have his house raided in this uncivil, undemocratic and brazen manner by the Nigerian Police underscores an anomalous and despotic tendency and is an indication of the recent clampdown on opposition voices in Nigeria.

“Our client at a graceful age of 92, has played a very active role in the promotion and restoration of peace and order in the Niger Delta region, his patriotic disposition to issues of national affairs clearly puts him in a class of his own, second to none.

“It is also a fact that cannot be gainsaid or misconstrued that his inputs in the Federal Government Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta militants clearly paved the way for the eventual resolution of the crisis.

“Therefore, it can be safely concluded that our client is not deserving of such humiliation and embarrassment as meted out to him by the Nigeria Police Force.

“In the final analysis, our client finds the act of the Nigeria Police Force as reprehensible, inexcusable and absolutely unacceptable.

“Consequent upon this, we demand that an unreserved public apology be tendered to our client by the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement concluded.