Alkali: The new Sheriff in town

CHIZOBA OGBECHE profiles  DIG Usman Baba Alkali’s journey to the top job in the Nigeria Police Force at a time the nation faces serious internal security challenges.

The three-month tenure extension of  Mohammed Abubakar Adamu as the nation’s police boss was cut short with the announcement of Deputy Inspector-General of Police(DIG) Usman Baba Alkali  as the new Inspector General of Police.

Adamu’s tenure ended February 1, but was graciously extended by President Muhammadu Buhari by another three months.

And barely two months into the extended tenure, Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dangyadi announced the president’s decision to wish Adamu well “in his future endeavours.”

That singular decision rests entirely the burden of the nation’s security on Alkali who joined the Police some 33 years ago, precisely as an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) in 1988.

Before his new appointment, Alkali was the DIG in charge of the Department of Operations, Finance and Administration,

Besides, he has held several positions within the Police at both command and divisional levels among others. He was at a time the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID).

Baba, who was born in 1963, hails from Geidam local government area of Yobe state, and  graduated from the Political Science Department of Bayero University Kano(BUK). Kano state.

He obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), and also  a member of Course 22/2014, a fellow of National Defence College and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

 DIG Alkali,  who has attended several professional courses and workshops both home and abroad, also served in  several strategic positions in the Police.

Similarly, Alkali was at some points the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone-5 Benin, Zone-4 Makurdi, Zone-7 Abuja, and Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Delta state (2013) and FCT (2017).

He is a member of the International Association of Police and a fellow of the National Defence College Course 22/2014.

The new police chief was also Deputy Commissioner of Police(DCP) Administration in Kaduna state, DCP Investigation in Abuja FCT, and  also at the Police Staff College as a directing staff.

Furthermore, he was also in Ilorin, Kwara state as an Area Commander, the second-in-command in Ebonyi, as Assistant Commissioner, CID in Kaduna, and DIG  Baba was also once a DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in various places like Yola, Gombe, Kaduna, and Jos.

Married  and blessed with children, the new sheriff in town is coming on board at a time the internal security of the nation is greatly challenged.

The new acting IGP’s policing vision is: “To enhance  police primacy in Nigeria through the provision of a motivational and credible leadership driven by professional knowledge, ethics, emotional intelligence tools, and strategic planning and operational models that are directed at stabilizing internal security and modernizing police operations, facilities and standards within the framework of citizens consent, trust, and rule of law.”

With this vision, Nigerians will expect him to translate this into a reality and redirect the nation’s internal security for the benefit of all before taking a bow March 01, 2023 when he is expected to pull out upon attaining the mandatory 60 years of age in line with the stipulated rules of service.

For Adamu, he has played his role and the rest is left for history. Be that as it may, Alkali will be taking up the gauntlet from there, learn from Adamu’s shortcomings and consolidate also on his predecessor’s modest achievements.

That’s the best way to go!

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