The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi announced that the President has appointed a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, as the acting Inspector General on Tuesday afternoon. He made this known at a conference in the state house.
The former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had his tenure extended for three months by the President, Muhammadu Buhari in February. Adamu is yet to complete his three months extension before his sack.
This is coming from the heel of an attack on Police Command Headquarters and a Correctional Service center, in Imo state, where gunmen attacked the station and the center, freeing inmates. Though, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) have been accused of this attack.
In a comment by the Minister about the termination of the three months extension given to the former Inspector General of Police, the minister said, “Mr. President is aware of this and you cannot take away that responsibility from him; he’s the one who is in charge of appointing or extending tenures.
“He has now decided to appoint a new person. So please allow him that responsibility and we cannot do anything about it.”
On the appointment of Usman Baba as the Acting Inspector General, he said, “After a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who are eligible police officers, eligible for appointment as IGP, in line with Section 7, subsection 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020), and having regards to seniority, professionalism, a record of service and competence, Mr. President has approved the appointment of an acting IGP, in the person of Usman Alkali Baba, with immediate effect.
“These changes are in line with the determination of Mr. President to rejig the security architecture of the country, to ensure that the security challenges bedeviling the nation are brought to an end.
“Mr. President has therefore charged the new appointee to rise to the challenge to ensure policing reform policy of this administration is fully prioritized and implemented to enable the police to perform most effectively for the peace and security of lives and property of all Nigerians.
“Mr. President thanks the outgoing IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, for his professionalism and dedication to duty during the period of his tenure. He wished him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Usman Baba was the Deputy Inspector General, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters. He will be saddled with the responsibility to bring sanity back to Imo State and ensure the escaped inmates are captured.