Eniola Olayemi
With a promise to be professional, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, an Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, mounted the saddle yesterday as Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP). He takes over from Ibrahim Idris, who is retiring.
Adamu was led by the former IG to President Muhammadu Buhari, who decorated him with his new rank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The handover is billed for today at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Adamu, who hails from Lafia, Nassarawa State, thanked President Buhari for finding him worthy of the position. He promised to discharge his duties professionally.
Briefing State House correspondents after holding a private meeting with the President, Adamu promised that he will be professional, especially in the handling of the forthcoming general elections.
He said: “I want to thank Mr. President for considering me worthy to be the next Inspector-General of Police. We know that there are security challenges that we need to tackle; issues of kidnapping, abduction and other security challenges.
“From the strategies put in place by the former IGP, we will re-strategies and make sure that we tackle these challenges squarely.”
On what Nigerians should expect during the elections, Adamu said: “On the elections, you have heard from the former IGP; adequate arrangement has been made to make sure that free and fair and credible elections take place in Nigeria.”
Asked if he was allaying the fears of the opposition that he will not be partisan, he said: “Well, we are professionals. We are going to stick by the rules; we are going to do the right thing. We will not go outside the ethics of our job to do things that are untoward; everybody will be given level playing ground to play his or her politics.”
Idris said: “I want to inform Nigerians that today (yesterday), I am 60 years, and I think I have reached the pinnacle of my career. So, I am going to hand over to my successor, the incoming Inspector-General of Police.”
A statement by Force spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said that President Buhari had directed a change of baton from Idris to Adamu.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria has consequently directed that the outgoing Inspector- General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, hand over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni as the Acting Inspector General of Police.”
The statement reads: “The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni hails from Lafia, Nasarawa State and a holder of BSc. Geography. He enlisted into the Force on 1st February, 1986 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
“Ag. IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu,mni is a versatile and seasoned police officer, a professional per excellence. He attended several Senior Officer Courses on Law Enforcement, Crime Prevention, Control and Management within and outside Nigeria.
“Before his appointment as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, he was a Directing Staff at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
“He was Commissioner of Police in Ekiti and Enugu states and also Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5 Police Command Headquarters, Benin, and Edo State.”
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated the new IG.
In a statement signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media & Public Affairs, the NGF described Adamu’s appointment as well-deserved, considering his personal accomplishments.
The statement quoted the Forum’s Director-General, Mr. Asishana B Okauru, as saying: “I am absolutely sure that Adamu Mohammed Lafia would bring professionalism and true leadership to policing in our country”.
Also reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged the new IG Adamu to restore professionalism and adherence to rules of engagement.
Its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged the police boss to know that “the whole world is watching him and we urge him not to fail the nation, which he owes his allegiance.”
