The Nigeria Police Force has officially withdrawn the security details assigned to Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, following an order contained in a police wireless message. The directive from the message, as reported by SaharaReporters on Thursday night, stated:
“CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X INGENPOL HAS ORDERED THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL MEN YOURS X ATTACHED TO HIS EXCELLENCY X ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO X FORMER EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE WIE X ALL TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMPLIANCE X TREAT WITH UTMOST IMPORTANCE. PLEASE X ENDS X ABOVE FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND STRICT COMPLIANCE PLEASE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.”
This development follows recent actions by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who on Wednesday barricaded Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him. However, intervention by the current governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, prevented the arrest as Bello was escorted out of the location in the governor’s vehicle.
Additionally, Bello was absent from court on Thursday when the EFCC arraigned him following a warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted by the court on Wednesday. Subsequently, the EFCC has declared Bello wanted for an alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion and stated in a bulletin that “anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest police station.”
In response to the escalating situation, the Nigeria Immigration Service, following an internal circular seen by The Bureau Newspaper, has directed its area and zonal commands to arrest Bello if seen, indicating that “the former Kogi governor was under investigation and there was a suspicion that he might leave the country to evade investigations.”
The circular emphasized, “VERY URGENT PLEASE!!! I am directed to request you to place the above named subject on watch list with immediate effect. Subject has resisted arrest and arraignment therefore he may run out of the country anytime. Please accept the assurances of the CGIS’s warmest regards and esteem.”
These circulars have been copied to various high-level security officials, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the Inspector General of Police, highlighting the coordinated efforts to track and apprehend the former governor.