Shettima decorates Acting IGP, Egbetokun

Wife of the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Elizabeth Egbetokun (left); her husband, Kayode Egbetokun and Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the decoration of Egbetokun as the new police boss at the Presidential Villa in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA

• ‘I feel like a tiger ready to devour criminals,’ new police boss vows
• DSS ex-chiefs, DIG hail retirement of service chiefs, IGP

Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, decorated the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, with his new rank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Acting IGP was decorated by the Vice President during a brief ceremony jointly performed by the IGP’s spouse, Elizabeth, and witnessed by other relatives.

Egbetokun, while fielding questions from newsmen on the enormity of his new responsibility, after the decoration, said by virtue of his new status, he felt like a lion that is ready to rid the country of all forms of criminality.

The new police boss, who was flanked by out-going IGP, Usman Baba Alkali, expressed readiness to combat all forms of vices and chase criminals away from the country.

“I really can’t describe how I feel now, but if I have to tell you anything, I will say that right now, I feel like a tiger inside of me ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I fell like a lion in me ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That’s my feeling right now.”

Egbetokun, who will officially take over the reins from the outgoing IGP during a ceremony scheduled to take place at Louis Edet House today (Wednesday), further said: “Now I have just been decorated and I am looking forward to taking over tomorrow (Wednesday) by 11:00 a.m.”

Alkali expressed confidence in the capacity of his successor to carry out the task bestowed on him by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to police the country.

“It’s a stage. You come, you work and you go. I am happy handing over to somebody I know that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I stopped,” the out-going IGP said.

MEANWHILE, two retired officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have commended President Tinubu for retiring all service chiefs and the IGP.

A former Director, Dennis Amachree, said the President had flown a kite to test the waters when he earlier announced Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser (NSA).

Another former director of the secret police, Mike Ejiofor, said: “The change is not unexpected, as he is bound to operate with his own men he trusts as a new administration. New broom, it is said, sweeps cleanest.”

Similarly, retired DIG Taiwo Lakanu said: “It was hugely expected. That has always been the norm. It’s to avoid divided loyalty and infusion of fresh ideas.”