The newly decorated Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has pledged to be fair to all political parties, but in particular those with candidates for elective positions in the upcoming general elections.
Recall that Adamu was on Tuesday decorated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa. He takes over from Ibrahim Idris who equally retired on Tuesday after attaining the age of 60 years.
Speaking after his decoration, Adamu told journalists that as professionals, the Nigerian Police had rules of engagement and they would be strictly applied as it concerns the elections.
According to him, the police would not be partial to any individual, groups or interests.
He also reiterated that adequate security measures have been put in place for the general elections adding that he will build on those to ensure a hitch free election.
“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.
“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.”
Meanwhile the former I-G Ibrahim Idris, in his farewell comments, commended his successor saying that he handed over to an officer he knew so well and who had the training to head the police.
He advised Adamu to go round the country and adopt measures to ensure that the police “gives maximum protection to lives and property.”
Upon assuming office on Tuesday, the new Police boss, it was gathered reportedly reversed some last-minute postings and redeployments approved by the former I-G 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.
Meanwhile, the new acting I-G is not wasting time in familiarising himself with his staff and colleagues. Shortly after meeting with the DIGs in his office at the force headquarters, Adamu was seen going from floor to floor, meeting officers in a kind of familiarisation tour.
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.
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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.”
Adamu, who hails from Lafia, Nasarawa State, holds of Bachelor of Science degree in Geography. He 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.
