By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dangyadi has explained why National Police Council (NPC) unanimously confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as the substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The new IGP has also revealed that he will do his best to ensure that crimes and criminality are reduced to the barest minimum under his watch.
Both spoke to State House Correspondents after the Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
According to the Minister of Police Affairs: “like you have heard, we have just come out of National Police Council meeting that had Mr. President, the governors, the Minister of FCT who are members of the Council.
“The purpose of that meeting was one: to get the appointment of acting IG confirmed by the council, that is in keep with section 205 of the constitution. It requires the confirmation by members of the council before he’s finally confirmed as the inspector General of police.
“Seondly, to brief the Council on the security situation in the country and as usual the meeting started with the presentation of tactics by the Inspector General which fortunately because of his track record of the IGP, he was unanimously confirmed.
“Mr President used the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment and called on him to ensure that confidence that was reposed in him. He should rise to the challenge and ensure that the insecurity the country is facing are brought to the barest minimum and the IG assured Mr President and Nigerians that he is going to work assiduously to ensure that the responsibilities assigned to him are brought to bear and executed to the best of his abilities and to the satisfaction of all Nigerians”, he concluded.
In his briefing the new IGP said: “I had briefed the Council on the state of insecurity in the country and I started by saying what is actually the threat to national security as it is now ranging from all the six geo-political zones, there are peculiarities like I said in the South East and South South is the issue of secessionist agenda championed by IPOB.
“I also talked about terrorism and religious bigotry in the North East. I also talked about the issue of kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and cultism as it affects the North Central and North West and South West. I gave a synopsis in terms of what we are doing to address this situation.
“I also thanked Mr President for providing additional logistics in terms of carrying out our duties and responsibilities. In collaboration with other security agencies we try to checkmate other forms of lawlessness, criminality and unlawful agitation in order to ensure lives and property are saved.
“At the same time Nigerian citizens go about their lawful business. What is seriously worrisome in the south east is gradually being checked and results are positive as regards the attacks and killings of security agents and assets belonging to the federal government.
“Our ability to checkmate this lawlessness has improved and we are getting closer to something positive. We also acknowledge the fact that there are some things that have been done by the federal government to improve police operations ranging from the establishment of the police Trust fund, signing into law of the 2020 police act and several other intervention funds necessitated our technology and intelligence led policing will be a reality.
“I briefed Council in on adding our strengths in terms of recruitment for 2020 and 2021 as this will assist us. I also briefed the Council on Community Policing which has taken off in all the states and how the Community Police officers are assisting in providing security in their communities because their operation is restricted to their Immediate community.
“I briefed Council on the number of arrests we have made and recoveries in terms of firearms and weaponry that are being used lawlessly. I briefed council on rescue of kidnapped victims and what we are doing to secure the school children that have been kidnapped and how we are going about it securing those in schools.
