FORCE HEADQUARTERS, LOUIS EDET HOUSE, SHEHU SHAGARI WAY, ASOKORO, ABUJA.
The Inspector-General of Police was evidently satisfied with the report from the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Aisha Yesufu, and had even rewarded her with a smile of approval. The prodigy definitely knew what she was doing.
He had listened with rapt attention as she revealed to him and the other commissioners that her team had discovered seven of their hideouts, permanently blew it up into smithereens, shot and killed those who tried to escape and arrested the rest, keeping them in custody for interrogations.
The Kano State police and forensic scientists were working hard. Their relentless detectives were sniffing for any strong lead like hound dogs. In those areas where they were lagging behind, they unofficially used the help of private agencies to cover those loopholes. Right now, Kano state was becoming more of a hell hole for the crime syndicate and soon enough, she reiterated, the remaining hidden ones would soon be scampering out of the state.
The Inspector General of Police took over when the Kano State commissioner finished.
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"We have thirty-six state commissioners. When you include the commissioner of the Federal Capital Territory,"
his eyes moved towards Commissioner John Kolawole, "that will make you thirty-seven in number. But do you know why, out of these thirty-seven commissioners, I have summoned only four of you?" the Inspector-General asked as his gaze leveled down on all the commissioners.
"That's because your state and the Federal Capital Territory are apparently their major place of operation, and I'm sure you know why," the IG continued.
"These four cities are part of the top most developed areas in the country and thus, it is mostly the locations where you will find a handful of rich guys.
"So if these locations which are under your jurisdictions are their major targets, then why is it still difficult for you people to capture, annihilate, extinguish, and vaporize these people who are apparently living under your noses?
"I want to know why these gangbangers and wannabes who barely have any military training would come into a firefight with the military and escape unscathed? Why would these rascals be in possession of firearms that only the military has access to?"
All the commissioners in the conference call obviously knew the unspoken answer but no one dared voiced it out. For all they knew, anyone who was present in that conference meeting could be the actual culprit.
Perceiving that the commissioners knew what he was driving at, the Inspector-General decided to get straight to the point.
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"I want the four of you to gather your most trusted hands and fish out the officers who have been aiding these people and immediately bring them to book. Am I understood?"
"Very well, sir," they replied in unison.
"I've gone through some of the previous documents you sent where you noted some of the supplies you need.
When the paperwork is done, you shall receive more armored personnel carriers, Hiluxes, machine guns, assault rifles and other high-powered rifles in our arsenal, grenades, teargas, bulletproof vests and any other ammo you requested for in those files.
"Any other thing you need to get this job done, do not hesitate to table your request to me. Fish out these double-faced officers and remember to watch your backs," the Inspector-General of police concluded.
"Roger that, sir," came the apt reply from the commissioners.
"Now, before I let you go, is there any question for me?"
Silence. Everyone shook their heads.
"In the absence of any question, let me bring this impromptu meeting to a halt. Report back to me soon of your progress. Until then, I wish you all the best."
The IG finished and the live video feed was disconnected.
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POLICe STATE COMMAND, PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
When the video call got disconnected, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police swore under his breath.
Once again, he had entered a meeting with the Inspector-General with nothing substantial to present. Once again he had made himself look like an incompetent fool, and he detested himself for it.
Those nefarious syndicates were terrorizing and destroying the lives and properties that he was meant to protect, and it seemed as though he was powerless to stop them.
He hated this feeling of powerlessness. He hated those perpetrators of evil. He was a man of action and he knew he should be sweeping off those iniquitous people with every vigour he had in him and not sitting like a sack in his office, brooding over his incompetence.
"Think, Abubakar, think. You were not promoted to the rank of a commissioner for nothing. You were not appointed a police state commissioner in vain." He scratched his forehead as the wheels in his head began churning rapidly.
"Where are you, foolish gangbangers? Just give me a hint on how to capture your maniacal leader and I'll squash all of you like a tiny bug." His fists clenched as the thought built momentum.
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An light bulb idea blinked in his brain. A soft, wry smile of momentary glee crept up his face.
But when his gaze inadvertently collided with the beaming light from his computer monitor, he scowled as the full weight of his mission crashed upon him once again. What could the tiny idea do to help in this humongous task ahead?
Irritated and exhausted, he called for his PA. "Jerry? Where the hell are you?"
His personal assistant rushed into his office when he perceived the intensity in the commissioner's voice as he called his name.
"Yes, sir." The personal assistant saluted.
"Come and turn off this piece of garbage," the commissioner growled.
The PA hastily did as he was told. One thing he had come to learn in time as he worked with this man was that the commissioner was not one to be trifled with, especially when he was in a sour mood.
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