Against a daunting array of security challenges ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, secessionist agitation, election brigandage, rampaging herdsmens’ attacks to die-hard Boko Haram menace, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, mni, climbs a career pinnacle at a remarkable time.
As Solomon Arase’s successor, the country’s new Acting Inspector-General of Police inherits a force considered largely ill-equipped and understaffed by many. Propelled by enviable credentials and President Muhammadu Buhari’s penchant for integrity, few would doubt the top dog’s ability to lead, however.
To underline his capability, the new sheriff is expected to hit the ground running, guns blazing. While critics confounded by a history of gruff policing, stray bullets, or ‘accidental discharge’, and a litany of unresolved cases might beg to differ, the new boss’ statement of intent appears to merit the benefit of the doubt.
At last Wednesday’s hand over ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the new Ag. IGP tendered lofty ideals. The Nigeria Police would “henceforth be guided by the international core values of policing with integrity, ensuring that the rule of law prevails in our actions and activities, and to strictly respect diversity, courage, compassion and professionalism,” he said. “The Nigeria Police would also operate within the principles of democratic policing which is an institution that is responsive, representative and accountable to its citizens at all times.”
“In order to establish and maintain high standard of behaviour in our official conduct and to eliminate impunity and ensure transparency in the application of the above core values,” he added, the police under his command would also have as its main focus, “integrity and accountability as its cardinal operational principle in all its actions and will be decisive on any of its personnel that deviate from its core values.”
Born in Bida, Niger State on January 15, 1959, Idris attended St. Paul Primary School Sokoto and Government Secondary School Farfaru, Sokoto. He bagged two university degrees: A Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and an LL.B. (Honours) in Law from the University of Maiduguri.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force as ASP Cadet in 1984, serving in turn as Divisional Crime Officer and Traffic Officer in Gusau Division in the present Zamfara State from January, 1986 to March, 1987. He also served in the Police Mobile Force (PMF) for 17 years, from April, 1987 to January 31, 2004.
He led a contingent of Nigeria Police officers to the United Nations Mission in Liberia on February 1, 2004 and was seconded by the Nigerian Government to the United Nations in March, 2005, where he served as Mission Police Operation Coordinator from February, 2004 to October, 2008, and was later deployed as the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations in United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT), from October, 2008 to March, 2011.
He was the Director, International Peacekeeping Office at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters from April 11, 2011 to July 6, 2011 and served as Commissioner of Police Kano State Command from July 7, 2011 to February 16, 2013. Of his recipe for success while serving in Kano as CP, Idris said: “Having worked with the United Nations peace mission in different capacities, I know what it means to use community policing in combating and preventing crimes and social disorders. We have been working closely with all stakeholders — the religious leaders, the traditional rulers, community leaders and sister security agencies to ensure that peace and order reign in Kano.
“Our mission is to take the message to every doorstep in Kano — that the issue of security is everybody’s business. The police cannot be everywhere, but with the cooperation of good citizens, we can continue to win the war against crime and criminal activities. Though the level of cooperation we are getting from good citizens remains very encouraging, we still appeal to the public to always feel free with the police and divulge to us useful information on the whereabouts of hoodlums and criminals. We have made available phone numbers of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and DPOs to members of the public. They are advised to call and send text messages to these numbers.
“Secondly, I have succeeded in instilling discipline among men and officers, and I can boast of their loyalty. My command has zero tolerance to indiscipline, and offenders here have been duly punished since I came in. You know, even before I travelled out for the United Nations assignment, I was Commanding Officer at 7 PMF Sokoto, 11 PMF Calabar, 23 PMF Keffi Street, Lagos and I was Commandant, Mopol Training College, Gwoza. In essence, through my assignment at this formations, I garnered enough experience, and most of the people I am meeting now as my officers were my students. So, there is that spirit of cooperation and understanding among officers in Kano Command.”
As Kano CP, Idris confronted the Boko Haram menace and left a legacy of security enforcement commended by stakeholders who also described his recent appointment as well-deserved. The Eze Ndigbo in Kano State, His Royal Highness Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, described him as an intelligent police officer who used his wealth of experience at the United Nations Peacekeeping mission to turn the state police command around. “The appointment of Ibrahim Idris as Inspector-General of Police is highly on merit and very commendable,” he said. “It is like fixing a round peg in a round hole. He is an articulate and amiable police officer who did his job as the Commissioner of Police in Kano satisfactorily without fear or favour. He brought to bear the qualities he possessed by bringing criminal activities in Kano to the minimum. His tenure recorded peace and tranquility in the state as non-indigenes and indigenes lived peacefully, as he played the role of a good mediator between the police, the community and the stakeholders.
“He possessed an amiable disposition by being a listening leader who does not compromise discipline as well as using his expertise in police community relations to educate and enlighten the people to be of good conduct and shun criminality. His ability to cope with any situation also made him distinct from others, especially during the heat of the Boko Haram activities in the state. He was able to fortify security and restore confidence in the people of Kano, not to panic during that period.”
The Acting President of the Kogi Community Association in Kano, who is also the Public Relations Officer, Police Community Relations Committee for Sabon Gari, State and Zone 1, Prince Ajayi Memaiyeton, described the Acting IGP as an operations officer, nationally and internationally, who has been on police peacekeeping mission in many countries across the world. He said: “He tamed the activities of Boko Haram in Kano when they struck on January 20, 2012. Idris showed that he was professionally skilled by securing the state. He is very good in community policing.
“I trust he will perform as the present Inspector-General of Police, creditably. Idris was a peace-loving man who brought peace to the people by preaching peaceful co-existence and love for one another. But Idris was a no-nonsense officer who knew his onions and that is why he was able to battle the terrorists, and to crown it all, he is a disciplined police officer.
“During Idris’ tenure, on the issue of kidnapping, he was able to rescue Mr Obi, the father of renowned footballer, Mikel Obi, who was kidnapped in Plateau and was brought to a hideout in Kano. He rescued the man and arrested the kidnappers. He fortified security at the Police Headquarters and the barracks where the Boko Haram insurgents did all they could to attack.”
The new police boss flaunts a resume boosted by professional courses in Nigeria that include PMF Conversion course 1987, PMF Operation Management Course; PMF Armoured Personnel Carrier Operation Course (all in Gwoza) between 1987 and 1989 as well as Advanced Detective Course in 1987, Police Intermediate Course in 1997 and Senior Command course in 2003 (in the Police Staff College, Jos).
He also attended Joint Police and Military courses, including Disaster Management Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji in 2003. In September 2012, he attended the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Management Studies (CMD), Lagos and Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos in February, 2013.
After his course in NIPSS, Idris was posted to Nasarawa State as the Commissioner of Police from February, 2014 to September, 2014 and then the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters as the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force (PMF) in September, 2014. The UN Secretary General appointed him as a Police Commissioner in UNAMID, in Darfur, but he declined the offer to ensure peace and stability during and after the 2015 general elections in charge of the Kano State Command.
Under the United Nations, Idris attended a seminar on re-organisation and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU) at the Centre for excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004. He also attended the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters in New York in February and September, 2009 respectively. Further, he attended the Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Management Course organised by the United States Military Pacific Command and United Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2010.
Commendations and Awards received in the course of his career include the Nigerian Inspector-General of Police Commendation Award for his performance as Commandant, PMF Training College, Gwoza in 2004, the Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for planning, execution and coordination of security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005, and the Special Representative of the Secretary General’s Award for coordinating major operations in Timor Leste in 2011.
He also bagged two Outstanding Leadership Awards by two United Nations Missions, namely United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2006 and 2009 respectively for his outstanding performance as Operations Coordinator in UNMIL and Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT respectively. For his efforts, he earned in March, 2011 the Medal of Merit, the highest national medal of Timor Leste, for his contribution to the security and stability of the country.
Idris is married to Barrister Asmau Ndayako Ibrahim with children.
