As Inspector Gneral of Police Ibrahim Idris clocks the retirement age of 60, there are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari will today name AIG Abubakar Adamu Mohammed from Nasarawa State as his replacement in acting capacity.
An authoritative source from the Police Service Commission (PSC) who spoke on the condition of anonymity said signal to that effect had been sent out, ahead the official announcement today
“Yes, IGP Idris is retiring tomorrow (today) and an acting IGP will be named. But I would advise that you wait for official statement to that effect,” the source maintained.
Mohammed was born on November 9, 1961. He enlisted in the police in 1986. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geography.
He was at one time a director of peacekeeping operations. He was also a police commissioner in Enugu and later AIG in charge of Zone 5.
He is currently a directing staff member at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State.
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) had earlier appealed to Buhari to extend Idris’ tenure.
Deputy national chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Sanusi Ajiya, made the call in Abuja, yesterday, after a peaceful march to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in Abuja.
A senior police officer from the headquarters told Daily Sun that Buhari decided to wash his hands off the allegation that he was trying to use Idris for election malpractice: “I can tell you authoritatively that a new IGP has been appointed, he will be announced tomorrow (today). He has been contacted as the signal is out. All the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) will be going with Idris.
“We are surprised that the Presiden- cy appointed someone from the northern part instead of the southern part. There was serious speculation that the President would not pick (someone) from the North, but today we are seing a different thing.”
The President had met with Idris behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.
Idris, whose is due for retirement from the Nigeria Police Force today, as he turns 60, arrived the Villa at about 4.30pm and proceeded straight to the President’s office for the meeting.
Buhari earlier met with Idris on January 4, shortly after they attended the juma’at prayer, the day he clocked 35 years in the force.
Buhari appointed Idris on March 21, 2016, to replace Solomon Arase, who retired from the police on June 21, 2016.
Idris enlisted in the NPF in 1984, after he graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.
Buhari, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is vested with the power to extend the IGP’s tenure or otherwise, but opposition parties and some civil society organisations have already kicked against the idea of an extension for Idris, the IGP from Niger State.
Regardless, there were indications yesterday night that a new IGP would be named today.
A source close to the Presidency who declined to be named confirmed that Idris’ replacement would be announced today, among a shortlist of candidates already submitted to the president for approval.
As at the time of going to the press no official statement had been made either by PSC, or presidency. Daily Sun gathered that there was tension at the Police headquarters as senior police officer from the DIG rank were waiting for the arrival of Mohammed who was still in Jos, Plateau State.
