NEW IGP APPOINTMENT-THE TASK AHEAD OF MR ADAMU
Press Release
The immediate Past Inspector-general of police (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotum Idris did his best till he retired on January 15, 2019 at the age of 60years.
Rights and Freedom Advocates (RIFA) congratulate him on his successful handover to a successor without being found wanted in asset declaration or forged certificate but for meritoriously serving his country.
In line with the going-concern of police institution, Mr Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has been appointed the new Inspector-General of Police for the Federation.
RIFA also congratulate the new IGP and urge him to serve the nation with required vigour.
Until his appointment, Mr Adamu, from Nasarawa State, is an assistant inspector-general of police by rank.
He was at one time a director of peacekeeping operations.
He is a former police commissioner in Enugu and was an AIG in charge of Zone 5; Benin.
He was also the head of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru near Jos, Plateau State before he was appointed IGP.
The Nasarawa-born police chief has served with the United Nations and INTERPOL.
With these track records, he is qualified for the top police position.
However, his service to the nation during his tenure will determine his place in Nigerian history
The new inspector-general of police, born in 1961, came on board at a critical point in the political life of Nigeria.
First of all, the dramatist personae of the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria;
Senator Dino Melaye has been playing on the intelligence of sensible Nigerians while the police under the former IGP treated him with kid gloves the way which other accused masses were not treated.
Senator Dino Melaye once feigned abduction to evade court appearance ditto to lying that he was not in Abuja on December 28, 2018 when he was to be arrested by police after an arrest warrant was duly obtained from competent court for his alleged attempted homicide in Kogi State in July 2018.
Instead of searching his home directly and fix out the wanted senator as police did to other accused persons before him, they waited for 7 days before he eventually surrendered to police.
After that drama, he claimed to be ill and was in hospitals deceiving police and Nigerians with another show of shame.
The new IGP must be ready to ensure all Nigerians are equal before the law and that Senator Dino Melaye was handled the way other accused Nigerians are handled by the police.
He and his co-travellers including those indicted in Offa robbery case, Deji Adeyanju who is standing trial for his treasonable felony etc.
should be appropriately prosecuted.
The nation elections are just few weeks away necessitating politicians to conduct campaigns.
The Police must ensure the campaigns are done within the ambit of law by not causing unnecessary break down of law and order.
Riots Acts should be read to all politicians and their supporters in order to avoid colossal loss of lives and properties during or after the electioneering period while whoever flaunts the law should be properly shown the way of criminals.
The police should also be fair to all contestants and political parties while officers should be guided to desist from unprofessional conduct that may tarnish the image of the Force.
The era of former IGP M.D Abubakar where IG order was generally complied with by police officers nationwide should be restored.
Despite the presidential directive that officers of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) should restrict their activities to kidnapping and robbery alone and desist from civil matters, many of them are still on the roads extorting the motorists and the road users.
They are more on Oyo state roads extorting road users in contravention of extant directives and laws.
The current IGP should just take scapegoats among such erring police officers as Mr M.D Abubakar did.
Most Police vehicles are odd like most police officers.
Majority of Police patrol vans have no number plates and inscription for identification ditto to most officers with no name tag and numbers.
Are such police officers with moral right to accuse any motorist of no particulars or number plate?
The current IGP must ensure no police officer go out of office without name and number tags.
The police under the new IGP should also ensure no police patrol van leaves police station without identification number and telephone number on it.
The extortionist attitude of most police officers should be checked as this is the basis of all crimes.
The Nigerians masses are tired of paying robbers in police uniform.
If the police could not account for tolls being collected daily, would they have the audacity to accuse other authorities or individuals of stealing or robbery?
Most police barracks could best be described as slums.
Apart from the fact that most barracks are dirty like most officers including their uniforms, the officers too hardly settle their utilities bills despite collecting salaries and votes for such making most utilities providers disconnect the barracks from the public.
There is need for engagement of financial expertise to monitor and audit police accounts as it seems some cabals siphon the police votes without such getting to the officers at the lower cadre.
The ridiculous meagre monthly imprest to stations call for probe.
The monthly imprest for police stations should be looked into if we want to reduce corruption in the force.
The Federal government integrated payroll system has been extended to police force, the IGP should ensure it is not circumvented by marauders.
The barracks should be put in normal position and officers charged to maintain hygienic compound or have their barracks privatized for efficiency.
The scenario where police officers are now security guards to those they ought to have rounded up and prosecute is worrisome. Mr Adamu should curtail abuse of using police by politicians and touts.
The Nigeria Police Force lost glory should be revitalized by ensuring the Police Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit is more equipped with modern gadgets for efficient performance.
The body has been very helpful in restoring public confidence in the Nigeria police as it deals with oppressions of some police officers.
Despite increment in police salaries, the extortionist actions of majority of officers have not significantly changed.
They oppress members of public with guns at various check points the same way typical armed robbers operate. Some criminals collaborate with some bad police officers to unleash terror on their targets.
Strict penalty should be meted out on such officers found guilty of such offence which will significantly curtail crime rate in our society.
Regular training should be organized for police officers on their roles as most do not even know what the law says about their operations and work.
Most police officers that compete at beer parlour with gun on them should be disciplined henceforth while those loading their vans with various gins should also be made to understand its grievous consequence.
Despite establishment of Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), most police officers still maltreat public members except those that part with money or are ‘connected’.
Cases abound whereby those who lost their properties and went to police stations to report were detained and not released until they were made to pay under painful conditions.
Most people do not bother to report their lost items again to the police for fear of paying for their lost items at police stations.
There is a need to ensure prompt response to public complaints without extorting members of the public on security information provided.
Many Nigerians are still being detained unjustly and extorted under the guise of bail by some police officers at many stations while others are harassed by some officers over minor issues.
Ridiculous prosecution of innocent citizens by some unscrupulous police officers under dubious grounds should be looked into.
Many innocent people are in prisons due to some officers’ penchant for illegal pay from highest bidder.
The nation number one police officer should provide a platform for human rights activists to submit details of such grievous cases.
To reduce crimes in our society, the police officers should be reformed first.
As IGP paddles the canoe of the nation security with prompt action as he did in reversing last minute transfers of his predecessor and appointing new spokesperson, RIFA look forward to a rebranded police with improved public confidence as the organization continues disseminating details of areas where police attention is needed.
RIFA wish the IGP a successful tenure as he discharges the tasks ahead to the nation.
Luqman Soliu
President,
Rights and Freedom Advocates (RIFA)
