Tag: IGP

  • I feel Like Lion, Ready to Devour Criminals – Egbetokun

    I feel Like Lion, Ready to Devour Criminals – Egbetokun

    The newly appointed acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday, expressed his readiness to work towards making Nigeria a crime-free nation and said he felt like a lion ready to devour all of Nigeria’s internal enemies

    Egbetokun, who said this during an interaction with newsmen, was however decorated by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, at the State House, Abuja.

    Speaking after he was decoration acting IG, he said, “Now I have just been decorated and I’m looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning by 11am. I really can’t describe how I feel currently, but if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now.

    “I feel like a tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other times, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now.”

    Former Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba, who appeared in mufti, expressed confidence in his successor, saying he would carry on from where he has stopped.

    According to him, “It’s a stage; you come, you work and you go. I’m happy I’m handing over to somebody I know, that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stopped.

    “We grew up in the job, we grew up together. I was his boss at a time, not even when I was IG, he worked under me twice. We’ve been working together and I know how he can go ahead to champion the cause of the police from where I have stopped.”

    Vice President Shettima had earlier decorated Egbetokun, as the acting Inspector-General of Police, at the Conference hall of his office at the State House, Abuja.

  • IGP orders postings, redeployments of 14 AIGs to formations, commands

    IGP orders postings, redeployments of 14 AIGs to formations, commands

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the posting/redeployment of 14 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to Departments, Commands, and Formations in line with his manpower development policy of fitting the right persons into appropriate roles.

    This follows the recent promotions and retirements in the Nigerian Police Force.

    A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said, ‘The Posting/Redeployment is in line with the IGP’s mandate and strategies to strengthen the operational structures of commands, departments, and formations.

    Consequently, AIG Ahmed Abdulrahman is posted as AIG in charge of Zone 14 Katsina, AIG Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje is appointed as AIG in charge Police Mobile Force, AIG Mathew Akinyosola is appointed AIG in charge Special Protection Unit, AIG Sylvester Abiodun is posted as AIG in charge Zone 12 Bauchi, AIG Aungwa Nwazue Udo is appointed AIG in charge of Zone 5 Benin.

    AIG Yekini Adio Ayoku is posted to Lagos as AIG in charge Maritime, AIG Olofu Tony Adejoh is posted as AIG Zone 13 Ukpo Dunukofia, AIG Aliyu Garba is posted to Abuja as AIG Zone 7, AIG Idris Dabban Dauda is appointed
    AIG in charge ICT FHQ Abuja and AIG Yusuf Ahmed Usman are appointed AIG Research & Development.

    AIG Haladu M. Ros-Amson is appointed AIG in charge of Zone 4, Makurdi, AIG Babatunde Ishola is posted as AIG in charge of Zone 8 Lokoja, AIG Alexander Wannang is posted as AIG in charge of Counter Terrorism Unit, AIG Ari M Ali is posted to Lagos as AIG Zone 2, AIG Mamman Sanda Umar is posted as AIG Zone 9 Umuahia.

    AIG Sadiq Abubakar is posted as Commandant Police Academy, Wudil, AIG Frank Emeka Mba is posted as AIG FCID Annex Lagos, AIG Benjamin N. Okolo is posted as AIG in charge Zone 16, Yenagoa, AIG Oyediran A. Oyeyemi is posted as AIG DTD, FHQ, Abuja, AIG Babaji Sunday is posted as AIG FCID Annex, Kaduna, and AIG Yusuf C. Usman is AIG in charge Force Transport

    The IGP charged all newly posted and redeployed officers to put their best foot forward in ensuring that the activities of their new Commands, Formations, and Departments align with the Police Reform mandate.

    He also tasked them to ensure compliance with all standard operating procedures in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    “The posting is with immediate effect.”

  • IGP Impose Curfew Across 36 States On Guber Election Day

    IGP Impose Curfew Across 36 States On Guber Election Day

    Ahead of the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day.

    However, those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electoral observers, accredited media and observers as well as emergency responders are excluded.

    “This directive excludes the Federal Capital Territory as no election is being conducted therein,” said Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi.

    “Similarly, the IGP reiterates the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.”

    The IGP also barred state-established security outfits and privately-owned outfits from participating in election security management. State-owned security outfits include the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, the Amotekun Corps, Ebubeagu, amongst others.

    The IGP urged all citizens to be law-abiding during and after the elections even as he assured Nigerians that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure they exercise their franchise unhindered.

  • 2023: IGP deploys three CPs, 10,102 officers to A’Ibom

    2023: IGP deploys three CPs, 10,102 officers to A’Ibom

    By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has deployed three Commissioners of Police and three Deputy Commissioners of Police to Akwa Ibom for this weekend’s national elections.

    He has also deployed a total of 10,102 officers and men from the Police, Customs, Correctional Services, Immigration, FRSC, NSCDC, and NDLEA to different parts of the State to provide security for the election

    A police statement endorsed by  the state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Fridays said the commissioners are to take charge of the Command, the North West and East Senatorial Zones of the state. 

    The CPs and Deputy Commissioners according to the statement have already reported to duty and moved to their respective areas of responsibilities.

    The Commissioner of Police for election duty in the Akwa Ibom State, CP Mohammed Dankwara before deployment, charged them to be professional while discharging their duties.

    Dankwara however warned criminal elements who may want to jeopardise the process to have a rethink as the Command would not hesitate in  bringing them to justice.

    The CP has therefore enjoined residents to go out en mass to cast their votes for candidates of their choice as adequate security have been provided.

  • Oduduwa Nation Agitators amassing weapons to disrupt elections in South-West — IGP

    Oduduwa Nation Agitators amassing weapons to disrupt elections in South-West — IGP

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba has warned that some separatist agitators under the aegis of Oduduwa Nation are amassing weapons in an attempt to disrupt the February 25 and March 11 general elections in the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

    The IGP disclosed this during a meeting with strategic police managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, February 13.

    Addressing police officers on Monday, the IGP said,

    ?As you are aware, some crimes of national security importance could undermine our efforts towards entrenching a peaceful electioneering process, if not adequately curtailed.

    ?These include banditry and terrorism which has ravaged many communities in the North-west and North-Central with adverse effects on the economic and social well-being of the residents.

    ?Similarly, violent secessionist campaigns by IPOB/ESN members have been targeted at various symbols of democratic governance including INEC assets, police stations and personnel as well as other security agencies and Federal Government infrastructures, all in an effort to disrupt the 2023 general elections in the South East geopolitical zone.

    ?Other major crimes are the growing activities of the Oduduwa Nation Agitators who, from intelligence sources, have been attempting to amass weapons and mobilise other resources towards disrupting the peace, security and electoral process in the South-West geopolitical zone.?

    Secessionist agitation gained prominence in the South-West geopolitical zone in 2021. The agitation was led by Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

    However, the agitation slowed down with the raid of Igboho?s Ibadan residence by the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021. He escaped to Benin Republic where he was detained by the security agents in that Country. He was later released on bail but has not returned to Nigeria.

  • Produce Ex-AIG Mbu for prosecution – Court orders IG

    Produce Ex-AIG Mbu for prosecution – Court orders IG

    For the second consecutive time, the Cross River State High Court has ordered the Nigerian Police to arrest and produce a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Joseph Mbu, for prosecution.
    The court specifically ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba to produce Mbu at its next sitting on January 9, 2023, over a murder case hanging on his neck.

    Justice Ukpai Ibitam issued a fresh warrant of arrest on the defendant before adjourning the case till January 9, 2023.

    The judge directed the Nigerian Police to ensure the retired police officer is available in court on that day, unfailingly.

    The state government, earlier this year, arraigned the former AIG over the alleged murder of Ayuk Etta Ngon at Bendeghe-Ekiem, Etung local government area of the state on December 24, 2018.

    A charge sheet on the suit reads: “Mbu Joseph Mbu, on December 24, 2018, on Ndung Stream Road, Bendeghe Ekiem, Etung, killed Ayuk Etta Ngon, contrary to Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol. 3 Laws of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004.”

    The ex-AIG had not been in court in person since the commencement of the case, but had always been represented by his counsel, despite the court reportedly ordering his presence.

    The court earlier issued a warrant of arrest on him on November 2, 2022, and adjourned the case to December 6, 2022 for the police to produce its former officer, but they again failed to do so.

  • Why Court Sentences IGP To Jail

    Why Court Sentences IGP To Jail

    Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

    Delivering ruling, Justice Olajuwon issued the order following a suit filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force.

    According to the affidavits in support of the suit, the applicant (Okoli) was forcefully retired in June 1992.

    After challenging his forceful retirement, a Bauchi High Court on February 19, 1994, delivered judgment in favour of the applicant and quashed the letter of compulsory retirement.

    The high court also ordered that the applicant be reinstated with all rights and privileges.

    The Police Service Commission (PSC) in a letter dated October 13, 2004, directed the then-IGP to reinstate the applicant and issue a recommendation for promotion in accordance with the decision of the court.

    Consequently, Okoli instituted a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2009 at the Abuja Federal High Court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the enforcement of the order of the Bauchi High Court and the directives of the PSC.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered its judgment in favour of the applicant on October 21, 2011.

    The office of the IGP appealed the court judgment but the appeal was dismissed.

    The applicant took further steps to enforce the order including approaching the Federal House of Representatives who then wrote to the office of the IGP.

    After efforts failed, the applicant approached the law firm of Festus Keyamo, to commence a committal proceeding against the respondent.

    Delivering judgment, Olajuwon held that the IGP should be committed to prison and detained for a period of three months, or until he obeys the order.

    The judge said, “It is unfortunate that the chief enforcer of the law is one who has deliberately refused to comply with the same law. It is important to state that obedience to orders of court is fundamental to the good order, peace and stability of a nation,” the judge held.

    “It is a duty which every citizen, who believes in peace and stability of the Nigerian state, owes the nation and the court has a duty to commit the individual who has failed to carry out the order of the court for contempt, so as to prevent the authority and administration of law from being brought to disrespect and to protect the dignity of the court.

    “The terms of the Orders of this Court are clear and unambiguous. This court Is satisfied that the respondent (presently and those before him) has had proper knowledge of the Orders of this Court, there is no denial of such knowledge and the receipt of Forms 48 and 49.

    “The respondent filed a counter affidavit, was duly represented in court by different counsel, who stated how they had written several legal opinions which were not attended to.

    “The refusal and failure of the respondent to comply with the orders of this court has been proved in this case. The respondent, in this case, the inspector-general of police, in the person of Usman Alkali Baba, is to be committed to prison and detained in custody for a period of three months or until he has obeyed the order of this court, made on the 21st October, 2011, in all things that are to be performed, whichever period is shorter.

    “If at the end of the three months, the contemnor remains recalcitrant and still refuses to purge his contempt, he shall be committed for another period and until he purges his contempt.”

  • Kogi Not Haven For Criminals Under Yahaya Bello – IGP

    Kogi Not Haven For Criminals Under Yahaya Bello – IGP

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, in Lokoja described Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as a dogged crime fighter who had made the state unsafe for criminals to thrive.

    The IGP Baba who spoke during his visit to Kogi State, added that he was happy that Governor Bello was playing the role of the “real Chief Executive Officer” in terms of security, noting that he is “a dependable ally in the battle against national insecurity.”

    He said, “I’ve never heard him crying that he doesn’t have control of security in his state. That is because he is able to synergize and cooperate with all the security agencies. Security is everybody’s business. When you have a leader who is leading from the front, others will follow. That is what is happening in Kogi.”

    “Many of the crimes being committed by Kogi indigenes are not even committed in Kogi but outside the state because they have no place in Kogi State again.”

    “We have people like His Excellency who are supporting our cause. My sincere gratitude to His Excellency for being proactive about security. I can’t remember how many times he has visited the force headquarters, not for himself because he has no reason to; but in his efforts to protect his people. I don’t know how many governors do this.”

    In his address, Governor Bello reiterated the readiness of his administration to resist attempts by some desperate politicians to plunge the state into the pre-2015 era of insecurity in the guise of playing politics.

    The governor said credible intelligence report at the disposal of the state government had revealed that actions of some politicians were capable of truncating the peace currently enjoyed in the state, stressing that his administration would not allow insecurity to be smuggled into Kogi through the “boot of politics”.

    He seized the opportunity to appreciate the Kogi State Police Command, currently under the CP Edward Chuka Egbuka, as well as those of the various security agencies operating in the state for being alert in the formation of a formidable wall of defence for the people in Kogi.

    On how insecurity was tackled in Kogi, the governor said, “It is well known that prior to the inception of the current administration, our citizens lived in perpetual fear from rampaging insecurity of all kinds including high rates of terrorism, kidnapping, bank robbery, violent political agitations, pipeline vandalism, herdsmen/farmers conflicts, inter- and intra-communal clashes, campus and other forms of cultism, amongst others.

    “By the grace of God, over the last 7 years my Administration has done its best to supply both the tools and the allied morale boosters that our officers need to excel.”

    “In our first year, we were able to buy and distribute over 200 patrol vans, over 500 motorcycles and thousands of communications and tactical equipment to the services. We also continue to provide regular maintenance and logistical support.”

    “In addition, we established a Joint Task Force, Operation Total Freedom, for them which allowed the Police, the Armed Forces and all the other Security Services, including our community policing network (the Kogi State Vigilante Services), to work in tandem, sharing intel and collaborating real-time in operations. In this way we were able to tackle the distrust existing among the services and which is the root of the lack of synergy hampering their effectiveness.”

    Governor Bello attributed his success in security to the combined efforts of the state government and security agencies, saying, “On February 8th, 2017 I received the Special Award for Excellence In Security Governance confered on me by the then Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris. It was the first award of its kind on a sitting Governor by the Nigerian Police. Till today the Nigerian Police Force has not seen it fit to bestow it on any other.

    “On December 26, 2020 Major-General MG Ali, Commander of the Special Forces Battalion of the Nigerian Army gave me a highly cherished honourable mention during a public speech and held up our security model as worthy of emulation by other leaders.

    “On October 21, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari presented me with the Distinguished Award for Security Management at the 2022 Nigerian Excellence Awards in Public, held in Abuja.”

  • 2023: IGP In Closed-Door Meeting With Political Party Leaders

    2023: IGP In Closed-Door Meeting With Political Party Leaders

    The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, is currently meeting with leaders of all 18 political parties that will participate in the next general election.

    The meeting, which is being held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, was convened to avoid electoral violence before, during and after the 2023 elections.

    Our correspondent reports that the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, represented his party while the national organising secretary, Arugungu represented the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    Also in attendance include the Presidential candidate of African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; officials of the Labour Party among others.

    Speaking before the meeting went into a closed door, Baba said this meeting became expedient following a noticeable trend within “the national political space which, if not promptly addressed could evolve into a potent threat to not just our national security but the electoral process.

    “Political violence manifest in three forms. First is violence that is targeted at the personnel and assets of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as recently witnessed in Ogun and Osun States.

    “The second form of political violence manifests in form of inter-party intolerance and violence which often become particularly pronounced during campaigns, elections, and post-elections phases.

    “It is on record that not less than fifty-two (52) cases of such politically-motivated, intra, and inter-party violence has been recorded across 22 states since the official commencement of campaigns for the 2023 General Elections on 28th September, 2022.”

  • No Going Back On Community Policing – IGP

    No Going Back On Community Policing – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Thursday, said the force would not discard community policing system arrangements already put in place to checkmate various crimes at local levels.

    Baba also disclosed that the force had upgraded its Police Training curriculum to cater for knowledge that will be practically used in carrying out responsibilities in line with the principle of Community-oriented policing.

    The police chief stated this at the 11th edition of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) forum in Abuja.

    “Over the years, crimes and criminality have adopted a fluid nature. There was a time when society and members of the community, on their own volition, would arrest criminals in their locales and hand them over to the Police for onward prosecution and sanctions.”

    “However, with time, society became more and more complicit in covering up criminals amongst them and even offering protection for them against the law enforcers.

    “This reality created an urgent need to domesticate the principles of modern policing as advocated for by the revered Sir Robert Peel as early as 1829,” the IGP, represented by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigation Department, DIG Johnson Kokumo, said.

    He reiterated that the force would make active various platforms such as the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB), the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) which has the capacity to receive complaints online via social media platforms that can be used for complaints, among others.

    According to him, these actions are aimed at building police/citizen trust which is a fundamental basis for effective Community Policing.