Following the appointment of AIG Ibrahim Idris as the 19th indigenous Inspector General of Police and subsequent retirement of 21 Assistant Inspectors General of Police which created uproar and misgivings in some quarters, Chairman, Police Service Commission, Dr. Mike Okiro has explained that the action of the federal government regarding the retirements did not contravene either the Police Act or the constitution of the country.

Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police made the clarifications yesterday at the decoration of the newly promoted Deputy Inspectors General of Police and members of the Police management team even as the minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdurahman Dambazau (rtd) advised the officers to focus of the key areas of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which are ensuring the security for the nation and its citizenry, fighting corruption in all ramification and revitalizing the economy.

Dambazau further urged the DIGs to put in their best to help the IGP succeed noting that no matter how brilliant or smart a leader is, he will still depend on certain imputs and support from his subordinates since he cannot be everywhere nor remember everything.

Expatiating on the retirement of the AIG’s and the furore it generated, former IGP Okiro said, “If you all recall, when Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo was appointed IGP, he was a DIG and so there were no retirements. When Aliyu Attah was appointed, he was an AIG, so all the DIG’s above him were retired. Tafa Balogun came in as AIG; all the senior officers were retired. Hafiz Ringim came in as AIG, all the DIG’s were retired. MD Abubakar came in as AIG, all the DIGs were retired.

“Ehindero, I and Ogbonna Onovo were DIG’s so there was no retirements. IGP Solomon Arase was a DIG before taking over so there was no retirements. Now that Ibrahim Idris has taken over, he should be allowed to work. The complaints and comments are all distraction. We have serious security challenges on our hands like that of the North East, the Niger Delta, Kidnapping etc. these distractions should stop to allow the Acting IGP concentrate of fighting these challenges” Okiro added.

Acting IGP Ibrahim Idris in his address told the DIGs, “You were chosen from the six geo political zones of the country to ensure balance and conform to the federal character principle of fair representation in key positions and appointments in the country and its institutions”.

“A Police devoid of integrity and perceived to be corrupt cannot earn the trust and confidence of the citizens and therefore will be unable to deliver creditably on its mandate. This is why I believe that the Police should never play second fiddle in the fight against corruption under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He continued, “In times past, the public looked up to the police to fight corruption at all levels of public service in Nigeria. The deployment of specialized ‘X’ Squads to dismantle corruption networks and arrests corrupt individuals was always applauded by the public and attracted confidence of citizens.

“My mission is to bring back this era and fight corruption at all levels of Public Service in Nigeria. This must begin within the police as Charity they say, begins at home”.

The decorated DIGs are AIG Shuaibu Gambo-DIG in charge Finance and Administration, CP Folorunso Adebanjo-DIG in charge Information and Communications Technology, CP Hyacinth Medo Dagala, DIG in charge Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department and CP Maigari Abati Dikko, DIG in charge Logistics and Supplies.

Others are CP Joshack Habila, DIG in charge of Operations, DIG Emmanuel Inyang, DIG in chage of Training and CP Abdul Bube, AIG in charge Force Secretariat. CP Ntom Chuckwu who is promoted and appointed DIG in charge of Research and Development Department, was absent as he was said to be on an official assignment.