Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has directed the appointment of new Commissioners of Police in Imo, Kaduna, Edo, and Adamawa in order to address the states’ security challenges.
While Imo has been subjected to attacks by gunmen suspected of belonging to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN), bandits in Kaduna State have not stopped operating.
Since the beginning of April, at least two police stations have been attacked in Imo, the first in Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA) last Friday and the second two days later in Orsu LGA.
In a bid to address the situation, the police chief ordered the posting of new commissioners to take charge of the commands in the two states, as well as Edo and Adamawa.
They are Mohammed Barde (Imo Command), Yekini Ayoku (Kaduna Command), Sikiru Kayode (Adamawa Command), and Abutu Yaro (Edo Command).
“The posting is with immediate effect,” said the acting Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Baba charged the newly posted officers to hit the ground running in the areas of crime-fighting and public safety.
He also called for support and cooperation from members of the public to the new police helmsmen to enable them to perform optimally on their mandate.
“CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, the new Commissioner of Police, Edo State Police Command, holds a B.A [Hons] from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” said Adejobi. “He was appointed to the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1988.
“He has served in various supervisory capacities within the Nigeria Police Force, including as Commissioner of Police in charge of Zamfara and Imo State Police Commands respectively. Until his recent appointment, he was CP Force Provost Marshal, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”
Kayode, on his part, holds a B.Sc in Political Science from the University of Benin and joined the service of the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP in 1990.
He has served in various operational, investigative, and administrative capacities within the Force, as well as the Officer-in-Charge of Presidential/VIP Movement, State House Abuja.
The Adamawa CP is a former Commissioner of Police in charge of Cross River State Police Command and until his appointment, he was the CP in charge of ICT at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The statement read further, “CP Yekini Adio Ayoku, psc [+], mni, holds a B.Sc from the University of Ilorin. He is an indigene of Agbeyangi, Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State. CP Ayoku enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP in March 1990.
“He has served in several capacities in the Nigeria Police with a great wealth of experience. He was a one-time Commanding Officer, 24 PMF Squadron, Presidential Guard and Escort. He has participated in peacekeeping operations and was decorated with the United Nations Medal for meritorious service in Kosovo. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police [IACP].
“CP Muhammed Ahmed Barde, the new Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, is a versatile Police Officer. He has served in Police College, Jos and Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano as DC Admin.
“He equally served in Borno State Police Command as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations. He was one time head of Force CID, Annex, Enugu. Until his recent appointment, he was the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Police Command.”