IG Writes Presidency, Allegedly Recommends Retirement of Senior Officers

Chiemelie Ezeobi

There are indications that the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has written to the presidency to retire some senior officers.
THISDAY gathered that the reason Idris gave for the alleged letter of retirement of the officers was that he cannot work with them.

The officers, who are of the rank of Assistant Inspector Generals (AIG) of police, were said to have been penned down for immediate retirement.

It was gathered that the IG said he wants to take charge of the police, arguing that even though they are all coursemates, they are said to be his senior in terms of promotion.
Already, some of the attempts made by some AIGs to meet and greet him was said to have proven abortive as they were allegedly rebuffed.

A source who spoke to THISDAY said: “There is serious tension at the Police Headquarters in Abuja. We have heard that the acting IG wants to retire both his seniors and coursemates.

“On Friday, he wrote to the presidency, through the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and it was approved and forwarded to the desk of the President for final approval.
“According to what Idris wrote, the reason why he asked for their retirement is that he cannot work with them. He said he wants to in all sense of the world take charge of the police.

“He said since he has been given the responsibility to provide security, it was imperative that these AIGs be removed because they might be a clog in his wheel of progress.
“With this move, there is a tendency to make 14 Commissioners of Police AIGs since the available and compulsory vacancy for AIGs is 26.

“Before now, 12 AIGs were promoted. From the 12, they will take seven of them to become Deputy Inspector General (DIGs) of Police and then they will be forced to go to the CP rank to fill up the AIG rank of 26.
“We wonder why they are removing experienced hands that would have helped him steer the police to greater heights.

“These officers that will be retired, are the last set of senior policemen that were trained abroad, or have gone for short courses.
“I don’t know why we are wasting manpower. By removing these old hands, we will have to expend huge amount of money to train the new crop of AIGs and CPs.”
But another senior officer who spoke on account of anonymity, defended the actions of the IG, noting that it would give room for the ranks to move up.

He said: “They will likely go. He (the IG) was second to last before his elevation. Force tradition demands that his seniors retire voluntarily or asked to go if they refuse.
“What we heard was that they don’t want to retire voluntarily and that’s why they have been seeking audience with the IG, which he refused to grant.

“It’s long standing rule and they all know it. For the sake of discipline they are to retire. This is because loyalty to one’s junior is always difficult in the Force and life generally.
“Although some are of those penciled down for retirement are his seniors, some others are not. What matters is his last place on seniority before his elevation.

“Those he was giving compliments to (in terms of salutation) will feel very reluctant to give him now. So to avoid acrimony, they are meant to go and that is what he is trying to avoid now.”
Attempts to confirm the alleged retirement plan with the newly appointed Force spokesperson, Don Awunah, proved abortive as the mail to him got no response as at press time.