SAN FRANCISCO, May 08, (THEWILL) – Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has revealed that a massive shake-up is imminent in the police force.
News of the re-organisation was broken at a three-hour meeting Adamu had with senators at the National Assembly.
For about three hours IG Adamu was on the spot at the upper chamber while the briefing was held behind closed doors “due to the sensitive nature” of the issues under discussion.
THEWILL recalls that Adamu was invited last week by the Senate to brief the Red Chamber on what the police have done to stop killings, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other crimes.
The police boss, attending the summons on Tuesday, told the Senators that the planned redeployment of top officers were part of efforts to tackle insecurity.
“The IG explained the new postings. He said the nation should expect more postings in the ranks of Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in few weeks,” a source told The Nation.
The source, who pleaded for anonymity because he was not allowed to talk to the media, went on: “The IG spoke on logistics. He solicited the cooperation of all Nigerians in the fight against crimes, particularly kidnapping.
“It was a session of reality for us”, insisted that “those at the helm of affairs must act fast to rescue the country from looming danger.”
“Questions were asked and answered by the police chief to the best of his ability, I suppose,” the source said, declining to give further details.
“Because the issues are so grim to be discussed on the pages of newspapers. It is a matter of taking steps to address teething security challenges confronting the health of the nation and its security network.
“You can see how the Senate President spoke about the appearance of the police chief. We have to play safe because it is a security matter.
“One thing that must be done and done urgently is that action must be taken where necessary to rescue the nation from the stifling grip of kidnappers and armed bandits. There may be no time to waste.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki, who presided, said: “The Senate, in a closed door session was briefed by the acting IGP on armed banditry, kidnappings, robberies, terrorist activities and other security challenges in the country.
“The police should ameliorate the situation and the challenges. We hereby hope to address the menace squarely.
“He (IGP) promised to address the areas that have to do with discipline of officers that have been found wanting. Efforts will be taken to improve on the situation, particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna axis and also on areas of intelligence and technology.
“The Senate also promised and is committed that it is ready at any time to give assistance to provide adequate funding that is required in order to make the police to be able to combat the necessary threats to our security.”
Adamu told reporters after the briefing that any policeman found culpable in the alleged raping and molestation of women arrested at various nightclubs will not be spared.
Adamu said: “We are putting in place a strategy that works. The Senate has appreciated what we have presented and they are willing to enhance the strategy. The Senate has agreed to support all our activities to make the country secure.
“Policing is dynamic. The number of personnel we have can never be enough. But the government is trying to recruit every year. This year, we have 10,000 to recruit. We will meet up with the required number.
“The information you got about giving N100 billion to herdsmen to stop killing is from the social media. There was no discussion like that. The source of that information is not yet known. It is somebody’s imagination.
“The raiding of nightclubs in Abuja was done by FCT Task Force. They came out to do their job and they reached out to police to support them and we did that. Women were arrested and convicted. It means that they committed an offence.
“The allegation that some policemen raped and molested them, we will set up a panel to investigate the issues. Anybody caught will face the law.”
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