2019: I’ll be fair to you all, acting police IG, Adamu assures political parties

The newly appointed acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on Tuesday promised fairness to all political parties particularly those fielding candidates for elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

Adamu stated that there were rules of engagement for the Nigeria Police, adding they would be strictly applied in dealing with security matters. He stressed that the police would not pander to the desires of any groups or interests.

Recall that Adamu was decorated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa. Idris, who was appointed IG in 2016, bowed out on Tuesday as he retired from service at the age of 60 years.

Adamu had gone to see Buhari in company with Idris, shortly before the new IG was decorated.

The decoration took place after Adamu had earlier on Tuesday morning met briefly with the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the decoration, Adamu stated, “Well, we are professionals. We are going to stick to the rules. We are going to do the right thing; we will not go outside the ethics of our job to do things that are untoward. Everybody will be given a level playing field to play his or her politics.”

Asked to speak on the strategies in place for the elections, Adamu replied, “On the elections, you have heard from the former IG; adequate arrangements have been made to make sure that free and fair and credible elections take place in Nigeria.

 “We are going to build on the strategies put in place to make sure that we have hitch-free elections in the country.”

On his part, Idris bade Nigerians goodbye, saying that he handed over to an officer he knew so well and had the training to head the police.

Idris advised his successor to go round the country and adopt measures to ensure that the police “gives maximum protection to lives and property.”

Adamu’s appointment ended weeks of speculation and suspicion over the alleged plan by Buhari to extend Idris tenure.

However, on assuming office on Tuesday, the new Police Chief has reportedly reversed some last-minute postings and redeployments carried out by Idris few days before his retirement.

It was gathered that the redeployment of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, by the former IG was overturned while other senior officers who were also posted to new commands and formations had been asked to stay action until further notice.

This development, sources said, meant that the redeployment order by Idris would not be obeyed unless approved by the acting IG.

Shortly after meeting with the DIGs in his office at the force headquarters, Adamu was seen going from floor to floor, meeting officers and familiarising himself with his men.

Meanwhile, there are strong indications that four out of the seven Deputy Inspectors-General of Police may leave the force alongside the former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who retired on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the DIGs, who are members of the Police Management Team and senior to the acting IG, Mohammed Adamu, might be forced out of the service to pave the way for him to set up a new management team he could work with.

It was gathered that those that might be affected by the reorganisation  include DIG Maigari Dikko in Charge of Department of Finance and Administration; DIG Joshuak Habila, Department of Operations; DIG Emmanuel Inyang, Information and Communications Technology; and DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover, Logistics and Supply Departments.

Police sources said that DIGs Mohammed Katsina (Research and Planning  Department); Sani Mohammed (Training and Development Department); and Peace Madueke -Abdallah (Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department) who were promoted late last year could survive the impending purge of the Police Management Team.

A source stated, “The three DIGs were on the same rank as Adamu last year. In fact, Abdallah was a Commissioner of Police the same time the acting IG was also a CP, so they were almost on the same level. By virtue of this fact, the new police boss may include them in his management team and save their career from sudden death.”

The acting IG enlisted into the Force on February 1, 1986 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent and had attended several Senior Officer Courses on Law Enforcement, Crime Prevention, Control and Management within and outside Nigeria.

Before his appointment as acting IG, he was at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

He was also the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti and Enugu states and also Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5 Police Command Headquarters, Benin, Edo State.