There are strong indications that the police have begun redeployment of command commissioners ahead of the February and March elections.
Security sources told The PUNCH that the changes were part of the preparations of the police for the elections.
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| IGP Ibrshim Idris |
He explained that the action was a routine, adding that it was taken because there were vacancies that must be filled.
Ekiti, Imo, Edo get new CPs
Consequently, the redeployment started on Wednesday with new commissioners assuming duties in Edo and Ekiti states. A new police commissioner has also been posted to Imo State.
A top police officer at the force headquarters, who confided in The PUNCH reporter, said policemen were lobbying for posting to Lagos, Rivers and Ogun.
“Many cops are lobbying for posting to states such as Rivers, Imo, Ogun, Lagos and others which they believe are political hot zones where they could make money during the elections,” the top officer said.
But Moshood, in the interview with The PUNCH, denied the allegation that officers were lobbying for posting to some states.
Vacancies are being filled –Force spokesman
Jimoh Moshood explained that some officers were redeployed to fill the vacancies created by those offering courses at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.
When asked about policemen lobbying for posting to Lagos, Ogun, Imo and Rivers states ahead of the elections, Moshood said, “No, people have been posted already, so the issue of lobbying does not occur. For example, last Saturday, CP Fatai Owoseni and others retired from the service and were pulled out of the force. There was a vacuum that we had to fill.
“Also, some went for courses at NIPSS as well as some special courses, so it’s those vacancies that were being filled. It is not true that there is massive redeployment of policemen.”
In the Imo State command, one of the areas affected by the changes, the Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, has been posted out of the state.
It was gathered that Idris had also redeployed three deputy commissioners of police in the command.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said “the IG has removed the commissioner of police, the three deputy commissioners of police and 11 out of the 14 Assistant Commissioners of police. The transfers are with immediate effect. The command is expecting a new CP any moment from now.”
One of our correspondents gathered that the IG transferred the Imo CP to the Bauchi State Police Command.
According to the source, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Kogi State Command, Ali Janga, had been transferred to the state.
Janga was in Imo State in November on election duty during the All Progressives Congress’ primaries which ended in a controversy.
It was gathered that similar massive transfers would be carried out in almost all the security agencies in the state before the commencement of the general elections.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said the command was expecting the arrival of a new commissioner of police in the state.
In Ekiti State, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Asuquo Amba, said on Wednesday that the command would strive to make the crime-free.
Amba said that he would strengthen community policing in the state to reduce crimes and all forms of criminality.
The new CP, who took over from Bello Ahmed, who had retired from the force, spoke at the command headquarters in Ado Ekiti while addressing men and officers of the command.
In Edo State, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosun has been posted to the state as the CP. He replaced Mr. Babatunde Kokumo who is proceeding to the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
Odumosun, who resumed duty on Wednesday, said his mission in the state was to protect lives and property and ensure the state was safe for all.
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