IGP Idris orders immediate withdrawal of police officers from VIPs, others

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, political and public officers across the country.Idris noted that a memo would be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval, which would serve as a guideline or template for deployment to VIP, political and public officers in the country.

The police boss stated this at a meeting with Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other senior police officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.He added that a task force has been constituted at the headquarters under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mohammed Adamu Dankwara in order to ensure compliance, adding that all the commissioners of police in the various commands have been ordered to carry out this directive with immediate effect.

He said: “In view of the current security challenges in the country, it has become expedient for the Nigeria Police Force to streamline the deployment of its personnel attached to political and public office holders, aimed at enhancing effective and efficient policing in the country.

“To this effect, a memo will be forwarded to the President for approval which will serve as a template for deployment to VIPs and public office holders in the country.“Accordingly, directive for withdrawal of all police officers deployed to VIPs, political and public office holders, with immediate effect, is hereby given.”

According to him, the directive include entrepreneurs, multi-national companies as well as corporate individuals, adding that any of these organisations that require the services of the officers and are found worthy would be considered from the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the force on application for re-validation through the states commissioners of police where they are domiciled.

On the illegal use of siren and abuse of spy number plates, Idris also directed holders of all police plate numbers to return them to the Force Transport Officer (FTO) at the headquarters and they are expected to apply for re-validation.

He however, said a task force formed under ACP Mohammed Dankwara should ensure that all state commissioners of police in the various commands comply with these directives and the list of the task force team be forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations on or before March 31, 2018.

Earlier, the police boss also decorated some senior police officers that were recently promoted to their next ranks by the Police Service Commission (PSC). Among the officers decorated by the IGP to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) is Danjuma Ibrahim who was recently acquitted by a Federal High Court over APO 6 killings.