By Ayuba Ahmad
No one else but the most nefarious and most wanted criminal in the recent history of crime, the cold-blooded Chukwueubem Onwuamadike, alias, Evans, admitted that indeed, “The Nigeria Police is no longer like before”. In apparent reference to his own sophistication in planning and gadgetry, the infamous kidnapper in captivity told journalists: “If the Nigeria Police can track and arrest me, then they can arrest any criminal.
So I would give advice to those in this business of kidnapping to stop it, before they find themselves in my kind of present situation.” Yes, even the acknowledgement and accolades are coming from an Evans, it is a fact that, the Nigeria Police has been going through fundamental and transformational processes that have been manifesting in improved efficiency in the past one year. As it was before now, the Nigeria Police just didn’t have the answer to the anti tracking devices used by the kidnapper to invade arrest for close to one decade.
In spite of the much known monumental and seemingly insurmountable odds, Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, came on the job of Inspector General of Police, IGP, exuding confidence especially expressed in his remarks about transformation. At every forum, he was strident on his plans at refocusing and re-orienting the police personnel in the performance of their statutory responsibilities within the international concept and principles of democratic policing. That is, a police agency that operates within the circumference of democracy; the ambience of the constitution;
compliance with the principles of the rule of law and one that respects the rights of citizens. Democratic policing also demands that the police, in a multi party democracy, will remain strictly on the side of the law without allowing the vagaries of partisanship to affect their conducts.
Exactly one year ago, the IGP promised Nigerians that the police under him will pursue with new vigor, their cardinal duty of fighting crime and criminals. In that regard, he spoke of training and refresher training programmes for officers and the rank and file.
He warned against indiscipline and pledged to put in place measures to check acts of professional misconduct. The IGP severally announced a renewed commitment to the welfare of the officers and men to boost performance, morale and dedication. The then new man at the apex of leadership of Africa’s largest police agency is one year today at the helm of affairs. How has he been able to walk his talk? That is, let’s get his score card x-rayed.
In keeping with his promise to reinforce the internal mechanism of ensuring professionalism and adherence to rules and regulations amongst personnel of the force, Mr Ibrahim Idris has since reorganized the X-squad. A special Department that keeps tab on the moral and professional conduct of officers and men, activities of the rejuvenated X-squad have since resulted in the detection and investigation of litany of cases of professional misconduct. As a result, an unprecedented scale of officers and men have been arrested, tried in line with the service rules and regulations, with varying degrees of disciplinary measures meted out to those found wanting.
Before now, promotions to new ranks were done without commensurate increase in salaries and allowances. Not only has that unsavory scenario become a thing of the past, the new management under IGP Idris has taken a step further by paying years of outstanding arrears due to promoted officers and men. Family members and next of kin of deceased police officers and men have similarly reaped from the new dawn in the police welfare scheme. Allowances to the families of gallant officers who fell in the course of official duties and pension to next of kin of those deceased are now regularly, scrupulously done. Internal and foreign training platforms have been widened to allow for specialization and general proficiency.
A good number of police men and women have been receiving special training on latest global strategies in policing in the USA, British and other international security NGOS training institutions.
On assumption of duty as IGP, I.K Idris went out of his way to forge a synergy with other security agencies through his courtesy visits to the Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces, the Controllers General of the Customs and Immigration Services and the Commander General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Crops, NSCDC, among others.
For now, the picture that has been unfolding in the past one year is a loud testimony that in spite of the odds, the nation’s foremost security agency can soar high, very high, in the performance of its statutory responsibility of securing safety of lives and property. The one salient revelation is: a leadership that is focused, determined and courageous can make all the difference. And that, precisely, is the result in the one year score card of IGP Ibrahim Kpotum Idris. It can only be better.
Ahmad wrote from Kaduna
Exactly one year ago, the IGP promised Nigerians that the police under him will pursue with new vigor, their cardinal duty of fighting crime and criminals. In that regard, he spoke of training and refresher training programmes for officers and the rank and file
