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Tag: Inspector-General of Police

  • Police to recruit 10,000 personnel annually -IGP

    Police to recruit 10,000 personnel annually -IGP

    Mr Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police, says the force will henceforth recruit no fewer than 10,000 personnel annually to enhance its operations.

    Idris disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday when he addressed officers and men of Zone 10 of the force in Sokoto, comprising: Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara state commands.

    He said: ‘’The yearly recruitment will be based on local government basis to reflect federal character and equity.

    “The communities will be engaged meaningfully in the exercise in tune with the principles of democratic policing.”

    Idris also promised that the police would continue to accord top priority to training, retraining, promotion, welfare, housing, logistics and other operational needs of its personnel to boost their productivity.

    The police boss, who also promised to urgently renovate the existing facilities and barracks across the nation, said most of the barracks were ‘’in a sorry state.’’

    Idris further said that the police management was partnering with the National Assembly to source for more funds for the force.

    “The police is largely underfunded, hence, Nigeria is under-policed, and I am working to redress the ugly trend.”

    The police boss also said that the force would soon set up a school to train officers attached to the border patrol units to enable them to combat cross-border crimes such as cattle rustling, armed robbery, human trafficking and other acts of banditry.

    “We will also soon reopen the Mobile Police Training School in Gwoza, Borno, establish a marine school in Bayelsa, among others,” he said.

    Idris reiterated the ban on check points across the country but told the personnel to maintain visibility policing, but stressing that ‘’bail is still free.’’

    “We should continue to be of good conduct to earn and sustain the confidence as well as the respect of the public we are supposed to be serving diligently.”

    He described zone 10 command as “one of the most peaceful commands ” in the country and urged its officers and men to sustain the tempo.

    The Assistant Inspector-General of police, (AIG) in charge of the zone 10, Mr Yakubu Usman, had earlier commended Idris for his humility, diligence and commitment to move the Police forward.

    Usman noted that the general security situation in the zone had remained peaceful in spite some attempts to disturb the peace.

  • Kidnapping: Police to establish tracking machines in Lagos, Rivers

    Kidnapping: Police to establish tracking machines in Lagos, Rivers

    The Inspector- General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, says the force will establish special tracking unit in Lagos and Port-Harcourt to check kidnapping and other crimes.

    Idris made this known when he was interacting with civil society groups and crime reporters in Lagos on Friday.

    He noted that kidnapping was becoming more serious than other crimes in the country.

    The IG said that the tracking machine established in Abuja had helped to resolve about 90 per cent cases of kidnapping with victims rescued and suspects arrested.

    ”Already, tracking machines have been deployed to states and will start functioning in few weeks’ time, so as to reduce pressure on those in Abuja.

    ”This will enhance the police anti-kidnapping drive.

    ”The machine in Port Harcourt, Rivers will cater for the South-South and South East zones, while the one deployed to Lagos would focus on the west,” he said.

    The police chief also said that there were plans to reinvigorate the force forensic laboratories, noting however, that funds constraints were hindering its implementation.

    Idris urged Nigerians to assist the police in tackling armed crimes, reiterating that the fight against kidnappers was a community fight.

    According to him, it is not what the police alone can handle. It has become a community fight and can only be solved with the help of the people.

    “When I assumed duty, one of the plans we came up with was to rehabilitate our forensic units. I outlined the challenges of the police and how to handle them.

    ”The thing is that we have been having funding challenges.

    “We are trying to address it in a holistic manner. Very soon, we are going to have National Security Summit. Kidnapping seems to be a community problem.

    “Over 90 percent of victims have been rescued. I agree that it is becoming a major challenge. It cuts across the entire country. It has to be addressed in various forms.

    “It is not just the police or security agencies. Take for instance where the Turkish School students were kidnapped. That school is situated at the foot of a swamp.

    ”Despite that parents pay huge amount of money, the school did not invest much in security.
    “So, we are going to use the summit to address these issues as well as others like the herdsmen and farmers issues.

    ”These issues are further dividing us as a nation and we need to solve them.

    You cannot have the maximum support of security in an area without the support of the public.
    ”Everybody has one thing or the other to make our society safe,” Idris said.

    He expressed the need for the media and civil society to be advocates of improved funding for the police through the Police Trust Fund.

    “The funding of the police is costly. What we are trying to do is to pursue 50 percent of our budgetary requirement from other sources.

    ”We are also looking for other avenues where we can address the problem of the police.

    “At the same time, we are hoping that the National Assembly will pass the bill establishing Police Trust Fund, by so doing, open up other sources for the police to generate money.

    ”It is already happening in Lagos (Security Trust Fund) and has been working wonderfully.

    “We are aware that the Federal Government is financially constrained and so, we do not think it is right to over burden the system by creating other agencies.

    ”These agencies would require funding and create rivalry. But if more money is available for the police and more people recruited, we can achieve so much more,” he noted.

    Idris also stated that there were plans to professionalise the police by establishing specialised schools such as Finance, Marine, among others for training.

    He urged civil society organisations to support the police in training its personnel on professional conducts.

    The IG expressed satisfaction at the scorecard of the rebranded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “We are working hard to restore the integrity of the police. Earning the confidence of the people is important to us and we can only achieve that by changing the attitude of some of our policemen.

    ”By the time we achieve that, the people’s trust will be regained and things will be better.

    “This is one of the reasons we make it compulsory for officers from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and above to declare their assets.

    ”My management team and I declared our assets when we came on board,” he said.

    On the strength of the police, Idris said that the service was understaffed and would need over a million policemen to meet United Nations standard.

    ”Thankfully, the government has given approval for yearly recruitment of 10,000 policemen. For so many years, there was embargo on police recruitment.

    “Besides, the police lost so many personnel in the course of the Boko Haram insurgency. We were the worst hit and still we were not recruiting.

    ”All these affected the strength of the police,” the police chief said.

    He revealed that of the N300 billion budgeted for the police in 2016, only N4 billion was eventually released.

     

     

  • 127 sacked policemen cry out to IGP for reinstatement

    127 sacked policemen cry out to IGP for reinstatement

    About 127 sacked policemen have cried out to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for their reinstatement.

    The police men from Zone 11 Command of the Nigeria Police Force, comprising Oyo, Osun and Ondo States were disengaged in 2007.

    They also demanded full remuneration of their allowances as well as the payment of their gratuities.

    At a press conference in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Ibrahim Shaibu, described their disengagement as unlawful.

    According to him, the claim of over-age given for their disengagement by the police was not correct, adding that they were within the lawful age of service when they were retrenched.

    He said: “We were not over-aged as at the time we were retired. They gave us certificates of retirement which confirmed the action.”

    Shaibu, who claimed that several complaints to the Force Headquarters, Abuja have been unsuccessful, disclosed that 16 out of the 144 officers from Osun have been recalled without recourse to them.

    PoliceOne of the letters addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, by Cpl Bolorunduro Oni, dated 4/10/2015, a copy obtained by our correspondent in Osogbo, the officer appealed to the relevant authorities to urgently heed their agitation.

    Other members of the group told newsmen that they have been confirmed dead by the current Inspector General of Police when he was invited by federal lawmakers.

    “On January 19, 2017, at the House of Representatives, Abuja the Inspector General told the lawmakers that we were dead but when we made efforts to reach him on the matter he said that was what he met from his predecessors,” one of them explained. 

    The retirees stated further that some of them had c9mmited suicide by hanging himself when he could not endure hunger.

    Mr Shaibu also said since their disengagement letters were issued, they have not been paid their gratuities as their pension fund administrators are yet to be notified.

    He said: “We want our gratuities paid, we want to be back in service. We do not want to turn street beggars, we want to take care of our children. IG please, help us.”

  • Impeachment crisis: IGP orders closure of Ondo Assembly

    Impeachment crisis: IGP orders closure of Ondo Assembly

    Mr Malachi Coker, the Acting Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, on Monday said the police had sealed the Assembly over its leadership crisis.

    Coker told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, ordered indefinite closure of the Assembly.

    The Assembly, had on Friday, Jan. 27, impeached the Speaker, Ms Jumoke Akindele, and other principal officers over allegation of N15 million fraud.

    NAN reports that the sum of N15 million was allegedly found on the Assembly’s Pay Master, Mr Makanjuola Adesina, who told the lawmakers that it was withdrawn on the instruction of the Speaker for a project which he failed to disclose.

    Coker told NAN that the Assembly had adjourned sitting indefinitely following the police action.

    “For now, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has directed that the Assembly should be locked.

    “On Friday, Feb, 3, the police brought a warrant that the Assembly should be locked indefinitely and that was after the House had adjourned its sitting at a plenary held on Thursday, Feb. 2.

    “We hope the police will not be bias in their actions by allowing the impeached Speaker’s faction to have access into the Assembly,’’ he said.

    On the impeachment of the Speaker and other principal officers, Coker said that 20 out of the 26 members of the Assembly signed the impeachment notice.

    “For clarification, it takes 18 members to sign the impeachment notice, while 10 members can sit in the Assembly to pronounce it and this time around 20 members signed the impeachment notice.

    “About seven members backed out after they had signed the impeachment notice following pressure from the power that be.

    “We all plan the impeachment together, but as human beings, some claimed they were not in the Assembly when the impeachment was to be carried out,’’ the acting speaker said.

    He appealed to members of the Assembly to come together and work for the interest of the state and not for individual’s interest or pecuniary gains.

  • Reps to IGP: Pay entitlement of 3000 dead policemen

    Reps to IGP: Pay entitlement of 3000 dead policemen

    The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the non-payment of the entitlements of three thousand policemen who died in active service to their dependent relatives.

    Subsequently, the House has called on the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to investigate the matter with a view of ensuring the payment of the entitlements within the shortest possible time.

    The Green Chamber also mandated its committee on Police Affairs to ensure implementation of the resolution and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Oghene Emma Egoh (PDP Lagos)

    The lawmaker, while moving the motion,  said there was a recent revelation by the Nigeria Police Force that the entitlement of over three thousand police personnel who died in active service over the years have not been paid to their dependent relatives.

    He noted that “the dependent relatives of the deceased personnel have been suffering immense hardships as a result of the non-payment  of the entitlements leading to their inability to pay their rents and school fees of their children.”

    The lawmaker also said the non-payment has engendered the difficulties in feeding and providing for other necessities of life in the face of the harsh economic situation in the country.

    Egoh said the non-payment of the entitlement of the personnel who died in the line of duty is demoralising on those still in active service and who are ready to put their lives on the line to protect lives and property of fellow citizens.

    The motion was passed when the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote and subsequently referred to the House Committee on Police Affairs.

  • Cybercrime: Police to equip Interpol unit

    Cybercrime: Police to equip Interpol unit

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Monday, said efforts were being made to equip the International Police (INTERPOL) unit with what it takes for a better service delivery.

    Idris made this disclosure at the INTERPOL Cybercrime training for Practitioner Investigators from African countries in Abuja on Monday.

    He was represented by Mr Hyacinth Dagala, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

    The I-G said the training was critical to boosting capacities in the fields of IP crime enquiries, identity fraud, online tracking of suspects, electronic crime scene investigation, among others.

    Idris said that because of the international nature of most cybercrime offences, the police had set up and deployed a dedicated high-tech and cybercrime unit in the INTERPOL in Nigeria.

    In the future, he said the experienced members of the unit would be deployed in the state police commands, where the cybercrime offences were prevalent.

    Idris said that the police had established and maintained a high-tech criminal information system to enable the police to cooperate with other internal law enforcement agencies.

    The police chief urged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunities that the training presented.

    Earlier, the Head of INTERPOL, National Central Bureau, CP Olusshola Subair, said investigating offences in the cyberspace had assumed a major policing requirement in Nigeria and Africa in general.

    “Cyber criminals have enjoyed a long start ahead of law enforcement and inflicted serious injuries on citizens we have sworn to protect.

    “We must in turn develop new ways and methods to adapt to current challenges,” he said.

    He assured that the capacities of the Nigeria Police would soon assume more effective and efficient level.

    In a remark, Mr Wei Tee, the Acting Head of Training unit, Digital Investigating Support-Cybercrime Directorate, Singapore, urged the trainees to come up with good strategies to combat cyber-crime.

    He said that no country could fight cybercrime, which was a transnational crime, without the collaboration of other countries.

    “There is no one country that can fight against this crime by itself, so we encourage all countries to come together,” he said.

    Tee noted that the crime was an uprising trend globally.

    In attendance, were participants from South Sudan, Zambia, Cameroun, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria.

     

  • Police deploy 25,000 personnel for Edo guber poll

    Police deploy 25,000 personnel for Edo guber poll

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has approved the deployment of additional 25, 000 personnel for the Edo governorship election scheduled for Saturday to ensure safety before, during and after the election.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force Spokesman, DCP Don Awunah.

    He said that the personnel comprised of Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Anti bomb Squad, Marine Police as well as conventional policemen.

    Others are the Armament Units, Personnel from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Force Intelligence Bureau and the Sniffer Dog Section.

    Awunah also said police aerial surveillance helicopters and gun boats, 10 additional armoured personnel carriers and 550 patrol vehicles would be deployed.

    He said that Idris was committed to ensuring that the election was conducted in accordance with the electoral law.

    The spokesman said that a Deputy-Inspector -General of Police, Assistant -Inspector General of Police and three Commissioners of Police have been deployed to coordinate the security operations.

    He said Idris would convene a peace meeting of all the political parties, candidates, INEC officials, election observers and other stakeholders before the election.

    “This meeting will focus on the overall desirability of peace during the election and adherence to the rules of the game.

    “All police personnel and other complementing sister security agencies are under strict instructions to be professionally polite and civil but firm in the discharge of their statutory duties,“ he said.

    Awunah said that the meeting was part of additional measures aimed at guaranteeing a credible election.

    He advised political parties, traditional rulers, community leaders as well as parents and guardians to prevail on their members, supporters, subjects, children and wards to be law abiding.

    “The spirit and letters of the law will be fully applied on any person or group of persons found violating the Electoral Act,’’ he said.

    Awunah said Idris assured the electorate and all law abiding citizens of the state of adequate security throughout the election.

    “He enjoins them to cooperate with the police in the discharge of their duties as the security personnel will operate within the framework of democratic policing, ‘’ he added.

  • 23,000 policemen for Edo polls

    23,000 policemen for Edo polls

    Nigeria’s acting-Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that a total of 23,000 policemen would be deployed to provide security for the September 10 Edo state governorship election.

    Idris said 54 coastal buses will be made available to take the policemen to their various beats during the election.

    He said the Edo election would be a test case for the ability of security agencies to provide adequate security.

    The Ag-IGP who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Joshak Habila, stated this while addressing officers and men of the AIG Zone 5 and Edo State Police Command.

    Joshak said he was sent to review the template put on ground in preparedness the conduct of the governorship election.

    He disclosed that 1,152 hilux vans have been sourced from across the country to ensure proper patrol of policemen across run state.

    The DIG Operations said armed tactical team would be stationed few meters from some polling units because of the law barring holding of firearms at polling units by security operatives.

    Joshak stated that more policemen would be deployed to areas identified as flash points especially in the riverine areas.

    His words, “The IG is very passionate about the success of this election. You must be apolitical. The success of this election depends on you. Do not allow anything to deceive you to do the right thing.

    “Patrol vehicles will be placed as such that response will be swift. Whosever causes trouble will be dealt with according to the law”.

    The AIG in charge of Zone 5, Kolawole Sodipo, assured that the election would be successful and would be a reference point for other elections.

    State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said everything required to ensure a successful election has been put in place.

  • Police Recruitment: Applicants to undergo polygraph test

    Police Recruitment: Applicants to undergo polygraph test

    The Nigeria Police Force said successful candidates in the ongoing recruitment into the Service would undergo compulsory polygraph test (lie detector test).

    This is contained in statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCP) Don Awunah, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Awunah said the test would be in addition to the general background check, biometrics, medical, physical examination, aptitude, oral and psychological tests.

    He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, who gave the directive, expressed satisfaction with the recruitment so far.

    Idris said that no candidate would be admitted for training at the Police Academy and colleges without undergoing these prescribed tests.

    Awuanh said that the test was aimed at ensuring that candidates recruited into the police were not of questionable character.

    He said the Police Academy and other training Colleges across the country would be equipped to conduct the necessary tests.

    The spokesman said the Police Force was determined to ensure that the exercise conformed with the acceptable standards.

     

     

  • IGP appoints new deputy Force Spokesperson

    IGP appoints new deputy Force Spokesperson

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ag.IGP Ibrahim Idris has appointed Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Jimoh Olohundare Moshood as the new Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

    CSP Moshood took over from CSP Sogbeba West who has been posted to Rivers State Command.

    He hails from Ilorin, Kwara State and holds a Bachelor degree in Political science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna state.

    According to a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Spokesperson, Don Awunah: “CSP Moshood was once a Police Public Relations Officer in Abuja Command. He also served in various capacities in the Nigeria Police Force as DPO Central Area Abuja between 2012 – 2013 among others until his recent appointment, he was the CSP in charge  of department of finance and administration, FCT Abuja.

    “He attended several courses within and outside the country few of which are Crime Prevention of Korea Police, at Police Training Institute, Seoul South Korea, Training Course on Anti – Hijacking Techniques and Tactics for Developing Countries at Special Police Academy, Beijing, China.

    “He is also a member of Africa Business School Abuja and Associate Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration Of Nigeria”.