POLICE LOSE SEVEN FEMALE MOPOL
By Benjamin Auta

February 24, 2004 – (Daily Trust (Abuja) The women squadron of the Nigeria Mobile Police Force, Abuja, is battling to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of seven members of the squad in less than one year.

Established in July 2002, by the present Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun the squad had a foundation member of 200 able women.

Out of this number, five were demoted leaving the force with a total of 195.

Authoritative source told Daily Trust that some members of the force died mysteriously, while the police was yet to conduct a post mortem on the corpses.

Our source listed the dead mobile police women as Bamidele Pet, Rosemary Xavier, Comfort Ujah, Rose-mary indigene of Jos, and one Comfort Essien who died in an auto crash.

Bamidele Pet, who died recently was said to be on quarter guard duty when she collapsed and died.

It was alleged that the police only made available a truck to convey her corpse to the village rather than an ambulance.

But the force spokesman, Mr Chris Olakpe, refuted the allegation that the death of the mobile police women was mysterious.

Mr Olakpe said that the police women died of natural causes, saying it might not be unconnected with natural ailments.

He said police officers who died on duty get their remuneration ranging from N500,000 to N1 million from constables to inspectors and while the IGP will receive the sum of N5 million.

He explained what info-rmed the formation of the female squadron of the mobile police force, saying it was necessary in order to react fast and decisive to crisis related to women, such as women trafficking, child abuse, and rioting
women.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200402240426.html