RINGIM, Biu and Sokoto are names of Nigerian cities, but that is not the link among them or the difference between them and Abubakar. The trio is intertwined in matters that Nigerians want to see to their end.

The issues now lie on the desk of Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, the new Inspector General of Police. Hafiz Ringim, removed Inspector General of Police, had his job on the line long ago, but it was finally threatened when Kabiru Umar Sokoto, a high profile Boko Haram suspect escaped, under the careful watch of Zakari Biu, a crack police intelligence officer, whose career cascaded in the past 17 years during which he acquired notable notoriety for his distinguished roles in the General Sani Abacha years.

All four would be having a lot to talk about in the next few weeks. Abubakar is expected to untangle the puzzles around Sokoto’s escape and tame Boko Haram, which has chosen the police as a major target.

It is interesting that government finally retired Ringim. Is his retirement a punishment or soft landing for a man who many wanted to see answering for the escape of Sokoto, who it seemed, was not treated with the level of security expected for such a suspect?

Ringim would be glad to be let off so easily. He would enjoy his full retirement benefits. In addition, he has been freed from the burden of Boko Haram.

Government’s reaction to the escape of Sokoto is typical. Ringim had to go and the country forced early retirement on six deputy Inspectors General of Police. The country would lose their experience and the investment made in them.

Was Ringim’s tenure judged solely on the handling of Boko Haram or the escape of Mallam Sokoto? Would that be a fair judgement? It follows government had to be angry about the escape of Mallam Sokoto – it was a great affront on all the noise being made about tackling Boko Haram.

The most important move from these changes could be the setting up of another committee with perennial committee chairman Parry Osayande on the saddle. There are too many committee reports on the police, among them one that Chief David Mark, Senate President, oversaw as Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Police. None has been implemented.

If the changes are signs the government wants to get more serious with the police, the signals are not clear. Almost all the security agencies have been rolled into managing the Boko Haram crisis. Did they succeed where the police failed?

Abubakar is coming into office with huge burdens – he will have to march on very sensitive toes to reach Boko Haram.