The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has directed all the the Commissioner of Police and other Strategic Police Managers to instill discipline in Officers on the menace of criminalizing civil matters, noting that the Force Management Team under his leadership will be viewing such professional infractions with more severe disciplinary actions and sanctions such that the burden of garnishee orders will rest solely on the individuals involved in such malpractices.
He also charged all officers to remain focused while monitoring the election tribunals and the proposed industrial actions across the country, develop proactive crime management mechanisms to forestall any untoward acts from political and non-political actors as Nigerians prepare for the nation’s Democracy Day (June 12).
Baba gave this directive today, 5th June 2023 while meeting with Strategic Police Managers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP said since the commencement of his administration as the Inspector-General of Police, he maintained a stand and rolled out several directives and correspondences to abreast them all on the need to streamline investigations and caution Officers and men against meddling with civil matters such as land cases, debt collection, matrimonial case and matters already pending in court.
He noted also that the leadership of the Force will not condone continuous violation of any of the Nigeria Police Force policy or regulations, especially the Social Media Policy of the Force and the oath of secrecy in handling the confidentiality of correspondences.
"In your own interest and for the good benefit of the organization, you are all to make this a subject of lecture over and over again to your Officers and men. Anyone caught in the act of disobeying the lawful orders will have themselves to be blamed", he warned.
Baba said it is imperative to reiterate that with the emergence of a new Administration in Nigeria and in most States of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership is duty bound to align with the security policy and initiatives of Mr. President which currently requires all security agencies in the country to adopt contemporary security measures.
"This, of course, include effective synergy and collaboration with other sister security agencies and the intelligence community.
"The President, without mincing words, has directed that there must be no form of discordance or crosspurpose activities that will engender inter-agency rivalry in our fight against crimes and criminality.
"As you already know that this has been one of the strengths of my administration, and it has always turned out to maintain a downward trend in crimes across the country." he noted.
He implore them all to sustain official engagements with other sister security agencies and stakeholders within their Areas of Responsibilities (AORs) in order to achieve a “Whole of Society” approach towards mitigating crimes in the country.
"Consequently, some Officers will surely be promoted to fill in the spaces that the retiring Officers will be vacating. Therefore, you should all brace-up for minor Force Re-organization very soon, and it will be based on merit and vacancy, as it is the custom.
"Likewise, I recently promoted thirty-one thousand, four hundred and sixty-five (31,465) Rank and Files to their next ranks, while some thousands of Inspectors who are due for promotion to ASP are already scheduled for Departmental Selection Board interviews at their respective Zonal Headquarters. This shows my firm commitment to promoting Officers as at when due in order to boost their morale."