NASS SIEGE: Why Osinbajo spared IGP Idris

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris escaped the wrath of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo because of his reported refusal to contribute additional men and officers of the police force to Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly.

According to a report by Vanguard, the sacked Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura, had informed the IGP of his plans for a massive deployment of his men to National Assembly, and pleaded with him to support the operation with more men from the police force.

However, Idris was said to have turned down the request, saying he already has enough officers on ground manning the National Assembly.

A top source quoted by the report said: “What the IGP told Daura was that he had enough police officers and men currently manning the NASS and did not need to deploy more personnel there.

“That was the explanation, which the IGP also tendered to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who summoned both Daura and Idris to the Villa to explain their roles in the siege on the NASS.

This explanation, the source said convinced Osinbajo that the IGP did not have a hand in the invasion.

“The acting President was convinced that the IGP did not mobilize his men to the legislature and that was why he was not sacked along with the DG DSS,” the source said.

It will be recalled that armed and mask wearing operatives of the DSS Tuesday morning invaded the NASS complex, stopping lawmakers, staff and journalists from gaining access to the complex.

The invasion is believed to be part of plans to impeach the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.