Usman Baba, the acting Inspector-General of Police, on Friday, met with police commanders in charge of the South-East zone over the attacks on law enforcement agencies in Imo State and the security crisis in the region generally.
Baba said the security situations in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of the country are critical, insisting that the challenges must be addressed urgently.
He noted that the challenges would require the force to rejig its operational strategies to ensure that the issues were tackled, adding that the commanders are expected to return to their zones to implement the recommendations made.
“It is not like we do not have problems in other geopolitical zones of the country, but we have to address them one after the other,” he said.
Baba noted that calling a larger meeting of all Commissioners of Police and other senior officers of the zone would not be right at the moment because of COVID-19 protocols.
The Imo State Police headquarters and the Custodial Centre were attacked on Monday by gunmen who released 1,884 inmates, many of whom are still on the run.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to rejig the police team, the IGP has approved new postings, appointments and reappointments of top police commanders.
In a statement signed by Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, Baba announced the posting of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Hafiz Inuwa as the Force Secretary and member of the Force Management Team.
Inuwa takes over from AIG Mustapha Dandaura, who has been redeployed to Zone-7 Police Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP also approved the re-appointment of Commissioner of Police (CP) Frank Mba and acting CP Idowu Owohunwa as the Force Public Relations Officer and Principal Staff Officer to the IGP respectively.
The statement partly read: “In a similar vein, the IGP has ordered the posting of the following officers; CSP Idris Abdullahi Abubakar as the PSO II to the IGP, SP Isah Abdulhamid as PA-IGP, SP Nura Kabir Hanga as Secretary – IGP, amongst other personal aides.
“The Senior Police Officers are expected to bring their professional and intellectual exposure to bear in assisting the IGP and his Management Team in developing/implementing strategic policing policies and plans, all directed at stabilizing internal security, modernizing police operations and restoring police primacy in the protection of lives and property of citizens.
“The appointments/postings of the Senior Officers and personal aides take immediate effect.”
