My plans for police, by acting IGP Idris

Ag. IGP Idris receiving the mantle of leadership from Arase...yesterday.

The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday unveiled his plans for the organisation.

Idris spoke after receiving the handover note from his predecessor, Solomon Arase.

He promised not to fail Nigeria, adding that the country would be safer, united and peaceful under his watch.

Arase, who was all smiles during the ceremony, was dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and purple tie.

Arase, who was accompanied by two of his management team, retired DIG Mamman Tsafe and Chintua Amajor-Onu, looked calm throughout the ceremony.

The ceremony took place at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. It was attended by Niger State Deputy Governor  Ahmed Muhammed.

Idris hails from Niger State.

Of his plans, the acting IGP said: “The Nigeria Police will 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 deviates from its core values.

“Availability of police uniforms and accoutrement will be one of our focus. Appearance of every police officers will be taken seriously and so, we will make uniforms and accoutrement available for members of ranks and file. Making uniforms available will be a priority of this administration.

 “Concerted effort will be made to establish at least one police forensic laboratory in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country. This will boost the capacity of the police to effectively and efficiently investigate and prosecute crime within the organisation.

“In our effort to give a boost to the current administration’s war on corruption, the police management will strengthen the Police X-Squad Units in the police commands with the deployment of thoroughly vetted, selfless and patriotic officers within the police organisation and amongst the federal, states and local government levels. The personnel deployed to this anti-corruption unit will be supported with incentives to make them more effective in the discharge of their duties.

 “This administration will establish database in all police divisions in the country because effective criminal database in police Divisions will enhance the police capacity for effective investigation of criminal cases in Nigeria.

 “Violent criminality is gradually taking over our streets, neighbourhoods and communities and in order to address these ugly challenges, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state commands will be restructured, reorganised and made more robust to reverse these ugly trends in our communities.

“The personnel deployed to these squads will be trained, retrained and motivated accordingly to perform their duties.”

He also  said his administration would review the Special Protection Unit.

According to him: “Deployment of Special Units of personnel to individual businessmen and private companies must be critically reviewed because these units are established to tackle serious security challenges in the country, such as riots, terrorism, and counter insurgency operations.”

Arase said: “I am fulfilled that a widely experienced, knowledgeable and passionate officer of the calibre of Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris has been appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation to march the Force forward. I am convinced of the capacity of Ag. IGP Idris to provide the requisite leadership for the Force.”