Kano’s Model Policeman

Ibrahim Shuaibu writes on the recent two-day official visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to Kano and how he lauded the 35-year-old Divisional Police Officer, Daniel I. Amah, for being a model policeman

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim K. Idris, recently paid a two-day working visit to Kano State where he launched President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign, thus inaugurating a new anti-kidnapping unit, and launching a “rebranded public complaint rapid response unit”, alongside the receipt of 25 patrol vehicles donated by the Kano State government.

Kano State, is no doubt home to the Inspector General of Police, Idris who served as Commissioner of Police twice in the state. However, on his return to Kano, IGP Idris was astonished when his motorcades drove pass an edifice that houses the Bompai Police Command in the city.

To the Inspector General of Police’s utmost surprise, the building wearing a new look has been upgraded from the headquarters of the state command, to headquarters of the Bompai Division. It is worthy of note that the structure used to be an eyesore in the area, one typical of other Nigerian Police divisional headquarters in the country. The Bompai Division, is situated at the highbrow of the Government Residential Area (GRA), in Bompai area close to the state police command.

The police boss was baffled by the level of renovation of the station; he was ushered in to the cell rooms of the Bompai Police Division, by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Daniel I. Amah, to appreciate renovation works made on the cells and other structures in the station, which distinguished it from 71 other police divisions in the state.

On a visit to the Bompai Police Division, THISDAY found its cell rooms well furnished with clean mats, mattresses, bed sheets, and a decent toilet cubicle, unlike cells in other stations which are usually characterised by urine of suspects, who also lay on bare floor.

The IGP also inspected the charge room, a new mosque, newly built and painted fences, the DPO’s office and guard posts, which were equipped with a couple of Close-Circuit-Television-Cameras (CCTV).

Idris couldn’t hide his admiration for the DPO Amah, thus showering praises on him through these words, ‘‘the officer in charge is trying to restore respect and professionalism to police officers and the force.’’

In furtherance, he acknowledged that, “we are trying to change the attitude of the police. This officer’s gesture has dignified the Nigerian Police. Bompai Police Station is very organised and properly incorporated with the proper inscription of the change mantra,” adding that “The DPO should be praised and encouraged to do better on this laudable initiative.”

In 2004, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Daniel I. Amah was posted to the Bompai Divisional Police Headquarters in Kano city, after being trained as a Cadet Inspector (Course 36) at the Police Academy in Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State.

It was learnt that Amah, a native of Plateau State, was subsequently assigned as the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of the Bompai Station before he was appointed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) by retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Musa Daura, in 2013.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Magaji Musa Majia, said Amah was recognised by Daura because of his “passion for the job” and his ability to inspire positive attitude among his contemporaries and subordinates.

The 35-year-old Amah is a graduate of Sociology from Bayero University, Kano, who also has a Master’s degree in Crime Prevention, Management and Control from the same institution. The Police officer believes that “physical transformation of police structures is a key component in restoring public confidence in the police.”

In his word, “If public members see police officers working in a decent and neat environment, dressing smartly and doing their job professionally, they would feel confident to approach officers and help them with any information they need. This is what Daniel (Amah) wants to achieve,” Majia said.

Also, a police source close to the DPO, told THISDAY that Amah executed most of the projects at the station with his personal funds, complemented by little donations from some of the philanthropists in the Bompai area.

Meanwhile in his address, the Inspector General of Police, Idris described Kano State as a cosmopolitan society with attendant crime and security challenges, saying there must be collaboration between the public, religious and traditional leaders to defeat the challenges.
“Kano State being the commercial nerve centre of the North is a beehive of activities and as a cosmopolitan state, with its attendant crime and security challenges; it requires all hands on deck and a collective resolve to achieving a peaceful society,” he said.

Idris said the donation of 25 patrol vehicles by the state government would complement the efforts of the police in the state to fight crime especially during the upcoming festive season.

“As the yuletide seasons came, the timely donation of this fleet of patrol vehicles went a long way in improving the operational capacity of the police, thus ensuring a safe peaceful yuletide season within the state and across the federation. We will not rest until we guarantee a safe and secure environment where citizens can walk the streets without being harassed, and going to bed with their two eyes closed,” he said.

On his part, the Deputy Governor of the state, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, thanked the police chief for the efforts of the force in restoring peace to the state.
“We are happy with the Police here in Kano, they have been very wonderful especially in the fight against cattle rustling, kidnapping and other crimes in the state,” he said.