An Executive order, “Hafiz Law”, pronounced by Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, Tuesday, while receiving the new CRS Commissioner of Police, CP, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, is to reward anybody or group of persons with N1 million in cash, for correct information leading to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers operating in the state. “… When you discover an armed robber, somebody who is in illegal possession of firearms, or somebody you know is a kidnapper or harbouring a kidnapped victim or offer any information leading to the arrest of an armed robber or kidnapper … N1 million will be the reward”.
The governor was clearly unhappy that several instances abound where armed robbery suspects who pay huge sums of money, secure their releases without prosecution and find their way back to the streets, to commit more havoc, assuring the new CP that “… we will give you the financial support to continue to feed them until the law takes its full course.”
Ayade who came clear that the police has the capacity and intelligence to determine when one is falsely accused so that innocent persons do not suffer unjustly, stated clearly that “anybody caught in the act or there is sufficient evidence that corroborates that action, that he is involved in any armed robbery and kidnapping, it is our responsibility as public servants who are in charge of the security of this state to ensure that such dangerous people do not get back to the society , unless the law finds them innocent.”
Responding, the new CP, Hafiz Inuwa, promised to work at making the state uncomfortable for criminals, soliciting for co-operation from government and citizens of the state to make their work possible.
