Hafiz Abubakar Ringim’s tenure as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) came to an abrupt end yesterday – a few weeks to his retirement.
President Goodluck Jonathan terminated Ringim’s tenure and appointed Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 12 in Bauchi acting IGP. The Nation foreshadowed Ringim’s ouster in an exclusive front page story, “Shake-up: Jonathan set to drop Ringim, DIGs” yesterday.Gone with Ringim are the six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.
Ringim was appointed on September 8, 2010. His tenure was dominated by insecurity and bombings, especially in the North, arising mainly from the Boko Haram (Western education is sin) insurgency.
What appeared to be the last straw was last week’s escape from custody of a key Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto.
Ringim failed to explain satisfactorily Sokoto’s escape.
The former IGP was at the Presidential Villa yesterday morning for the second day running. But it was a prelude to his ouster from office.
At about 4pm, the newly appointed acting IGP was driven into the Villa in a black Toyota Prado marked Abuja CZ11RBC. He was ushered into the President’s Office.
One hour and 11 minutes after, Abubakar emerged from the President’s Office and his appointment was announced.
Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, in a statement announcing the departure of Ringim and the appointment of Abubakar, said:
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganisation and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.
“Mr. Abubakar, who is currently an Assistant Inspector-General of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim, who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from today, 25th January 2012.
“Born on May 5, 1958, Mr. Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi before his new appointment.
“President Jonathan has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect. These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept), Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).
The President has also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force. The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O Osayande, DIG (rtd).
Other members of the Committee are:
Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.),
Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.),
Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe (rtd)
Prof. S.D. Mukoro
Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN)
Aisha Larai Tukur
Solicitor General of the Federation
Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee
The Committee is to:
identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the police and make recommendations for addressing the challenges;examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the police to determine their adequacy or otherwise;
determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution;
examine records of performance of officers and men of the police with a view to identifying those who can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity, age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty; and
make any other recommendations for the improvement of the police.
“The Committee’s recommendations shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.
CULLED FROM THE NATION.
