Police and the gale of change

Especially pronounced in the past, promotions in general to the top echelons in the nation’s security agencies have often been based on the puerile, mundane factors of political expediencies and nepotism hinged on the geo-political, ethnic, and other primordial identities of the beneficiaries. An unprecedented mass promotion of deserving Nigeria Police officers and men carried […]

Especially pronounced in the past, promotions in general to the top echelons in the nation’s security agencies have often been based on the puerile, mundane factors of political expediencies and nepotism hinged on the geo-political, ethnic, and other primordial identities of the beneficiaries.
An unprecedented mass promotion of deserving Nigeria Police officers and men carried out recently, the payment of arrears due to those long promoted to new ranks and the resolution of the lingering issue of junior officers who had obtained certificates of tertiary institutions are some of the strategies and innovative actions having the cumulative effects of bolstering emerging dedication and zest in the Police Force. Of similar results, is the recent redeployment and appointment of officers of the ranks of commissioners and above.
The promotion of the immediate past Police Commissioner, Kano State Police Command, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Idris, to the coveted position of Assistant Inspector General, AIG, is one of such steps taken by the IGP that had elicited excitement in the force and among members of the public. While a cross section of law-abiding citizens of Kano will surely miss the services of a quintessential cop, his promotion is being widely hailed however, as a dissevering reward for exemplary dedication, competence and professionalism. Especially gratifying to well-wishers and those conversant with appointments in the Police Force, is the posting of Mr. Idris to assist equally tested and decorated Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Mr. Wakama in the Federal Operations, which, like the Infantry of the Army, is the heart beat, the canine of the force. Coming on this critical assignment with a glowing resume of experience as well as garlands acquired within and outside of Nigeria, Idris must have been deemed a square peg in a square hole by his superiors that took the decision to post him to that department.
A member of the Cadet Course 1984 who had held command positions especially in the Mobile Police Force units in Police Training Institutions and in the state commands, the new AIG Federal Operations had equally seen service outside the shores of the country. Among others he severed as Mission Police Operation Co-ordinator of the United Nations Mission in Liberia and as Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, UN Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT). Widely celebrated in Kano where, he had the unique distinction of having served as Police Commission on two occasions, as the cop that made life unbearable for criminals especially in the wake of the Boko Haram invasion, not a few were surprised that the ravaging inferno of the ethnic militia, Ombatse, in Nassarawa state quickly fizzled out on his arrival as the State Police Commissioner, about two years ago. Certainly, few men could have come this far in their career trajectory. Yet for him, the elevation and new assignment constitutes possibly, and acidic test.
Alhaji Ibrahim K. Idris as AIG, Federal Operations must soberly hearken to the words of advice “To whom much is given, much is expected”. In other words, as the operations department of the police is expected to play the function of the arrow head of the police under the new dispensation of change blowing across the country, Mr. Idris and his immediate boss, DIG Wakama are being looked upon to put on their very best, tighten their girdle in midwifing the vision of change clearly manifesting under IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase.
Ahmed, 4 Muhammed Yusuf Lere Street, Doctors Quarters, Kaduna