NATFORCE in crisis as DG dies

By Abba -Eku Onyeka Abuja

Following the recent death of the founder and Director General (DG) of National Taskforce to Combat Illegal Importation of Arms and Ammunition  (NATFORCE), Dr Osita Emmanuel Okereke, leadership tussle has divided the organization into two factions, each claiming to be the real NATFORCE, with a DG and other leaders.

While the other faction elected Alhaji Baba Mohammed as its DG with the wife of the late DG, Mrs Laura Okereke as his deputy, the other faction had the former Assistant DG, Katsina, Engr Musa Mohammed Katsina as its DG.

After the election, while Baba Mohammed seriously warned Musa Mohammed Katsina to stop parading himself as the DG of the organization, Musa Mohammed in turn accused him of coming into the organization to disorganise it. Informing that Baba Mohammed just joined the organization about six months ago with the intention to destroy it,  he said that Okereke and people like him worked hard to ensure that the organization excels. This he said that Baba Mohammed and his few click planned to put to an end.

Alhaji Baba Mohammed addressed journalists immediately after the election recently in Abuja, while the National Commandant to the DG’s Special Squard, from the other faction, Aliyu Aminu Wayas spoke  on behalf of his DG,  Mohammed Katsina.

In his address after the election, Baba Mohammed vowed to move the organization forward, even as he said he would continue where his predecessor did well and automatically drop areas where he didn’t.

Reiterating why members of the public should beware of any person who has been parading himself as the DG, saying that there is no faction in the paramilitary, he stated  that leaders were usually produced through election, which he said they have done in line with their constitution.

Commending the National Assembly for making their Bill to pass second reading,  the fractional DG however said that they would collaborate with the Police, Civil Defence, the Custom and other law enforcement agencies in performance of their duties.

In further reactions, the other fractional leader said that Baba Mohammed was recently introduced into NATFORCE by a member whom he ended up betraying. He went further to repeat that Baba Mohammed thought that he would be able to deceive the late DG who before his death gave all the documents and the position of DG to Mohammed Katsina.

Calling on the members of the public to ignore what he described as a purported election, as well as not recognize Baba Mohammed as the DG of the organization, he said Baba Mohammed labeled the late DG a duper and wondered why he has in turn come to take the position of a duper. He also chided the wife of the late DG for accepting the position of DG from a man, he accused of declaring her husband, the late DG as duper.

Consoling with the family over the death of the former DG, he assured them of continued cooperation of NATFORCE, for those the DG left behind to benefit from the fruit of his labor.