In the true tradition of noble service to man and community, IGP Ibrahim K-Idris has within 2 years in the saddle as the Inspector General of Police has not only shown that accountability is possible in the Police Force but has also taken the bull by the horn by working closely with the entire police formation across the country; there is honesty in all he does.
In every fora, he has made it clear to his men that they must be the change agent and that the era of corruption, reckless use of fire arm in the Police Force is over.
No wonder the entire Police formation went agog when on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 when President Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina announced the appointment of then Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, as the Acting Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria.
No doubt, IGP Ibrahim Idris became the happiest persons in Nigeria when he was confirmed as substantive Inspector General of Police on Wednesday, September 7th, 2016. IGP Idris’ confirmation came barely four months after President Buhari elevated him from an Assistant Inspector General of Police, to the Acting IGP, following the retirement of his predecessor, IGP Solomon Arase who retired from service.
In order to establish and maintain high standard of behaviour in Police’s official conduct and to eliminate latitude and ensure transparency in the application of the core values of the Nigeria Police, IGP Idris set in motion to ensure that the following activities were carried out immediately by this administration:
Responsive Police Institution: It has been against work ethics for Police Commander at any Command level in threatening complaints with levity and complaint received from members of the public are treated within shortest possible time to the satisfaction of the complainant. This is in line with IGP Idris’s principles of democratic policing which states that a democratic police institution must be responsive to the yearnings of the community.
Transparency and Accountability in the Management of Police Cooperative, Police Mortgage Bank and Police Insurance Schemes: The management of Police Cooperative, Police Mortgage Bank and Insurance Schemes which are investments made by the members of the force is now more transparent and accountable to the generality of the Police personnel, especially the ranks and file who constitute the largest contributors. A lot has been achieved in the IGP Idris efforts to enhance the welfare of the police personnel through genuine utilization of these three investments. The accounts of these institutions bodies has been made more transparent and accountable to the entire members of the force and contributors now have more say in the running of these accounts and on how their investments will be utilized on daily basis.
Strengthening of the Police X-Squads Units to Fight Corruption amongst Civil Servants: In his effort to give a boost to the current administrations war on corruption, the Police management under IGP Idris has strengthen the Police X-Squad Units in the Police Commands with the deployment of thoroughly vetted, selfless and patriotic officers to tackle corruption and abuse of office within the police organization and amongst the Federal, States and Local government levels. The personnel deployed to this anti-corruption unit are been supported with incentives to make them more effective in the discharge of their duties.
Cheap and Affordable Housing for Ranks and File: IGP Idris administration has left no stone unturned to look into the issue of provision of cheap and affordable accommodation for the police ranks and file to own individually. Through the Nigeria Police Mortgage Bank, Police Ranks and File can now own their personal houses with ease even after retirement.
Availability of Police Uniforms and Accoutrement: Making uniforms and accoutrement available for members of Ranks and File has been the priority of IGP Idris. Hence, appearance of every Police officer has been taken seriously. Gone are those days when Policemen appears in tattered uniforms and shoes
Payment of Salaries: Prompt and timely payment of salaries of serving personnel is now a cardinal objective that has been vigorously pursued by this IGP through the introduction of IPPIS Data Capture and Verification Exercise.
For those that do not know the background of the amiable IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, he was born in Bida, Niger State on 15th January 1959. He attended St. Paul Primary School Sokoto and Government Secondary School Farfaru Sokoto.
He bagged two University Degrees: Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State and an LLB (Honours) in Law from University of Maiduguri, Borno State
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as ASP Cadet in 1984, where he served subsequently as Divisional Crime Officer and Traffic Officer in Gusau Division in the present Zamfara State from January, 1986 to March, 1987; Police Mobile Force in April 1987. He later served in the Police Mobile Force (PMF) for Seventeen years, from April 1987 to 31st January 2004.
IGP Ibrahim K. Idris led a contingent of Nigerian Police Officers to United Nation Mission in Liberia on 1st February 2004 and was later seconded by the Nigerian Government to the United Nations in March 2005, where he served as Mission Police Operation Coordinator from February 2004 to October 2008, and was later deployed from there as the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations in United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT), from October 2008 to March 2011.
He was the Director, International Peace Keeping Office at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters from 11th April 2011 to 6th July 2011, and served as Commissioner of Police Kano State Command from 7th July 2011 to 16th February 2013. After his course in NIPSS, IGP Ibrahim Idris was posted to Nasarawa State as the Commissioner of Police from February 2014 to September 2014. From there he was posted to Nigeria Police Force Headquarters as the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force in September 2014.
The UN Secretary General appointed IGP Ibrahim Idris as a Police Commissioner in UNAMID, Darfur. This was the first time a Nigerian Police officer clinched a B2 position for any UN mission in the world. However, the offer was declined to enable him contribute his quarter in ensuring peace and stability immediately during and after the 2015 general elections. He was later transferred to Kano State Command in 2015 where he conducted the general elections held in 2015.
IGP Ibrahim K. Idris attended many professional courses in Nigeria which included: PMF Conversion course 1987, PMF Operation. Management Course, PMF Armored Personnel Carrier Operation Course all in Gwoza, between 1987 and 1989. He also attended Advanced Detective Course in 1987, Police Intermediate Course in 1997 and Senior Command course in 2003, all in Police Staff College Jos.
He also attended Joint Police and Military courses, including Disaster Management Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in 2003. In September 2012, he attended the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Management Studies (CMD), Lagos and Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Jos in February 2013.
Under the United Nations, IGP Ibrahim Idris attended a seminar on re-organization and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU) under the United Nations, at the Centre for Excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004. He also attended the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters in New York in February and September 2009 respectively. He further attended Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Management Course organized by the United States Military Pacific Command and United Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2010.
He has severally served as visiting lecturer on “Roles of Police on United Nations Peace Keeping Operations” in Nigerian Defense College in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was a Mentor to African Union/United Nations Senior Leadership Seminar in Douala, Cameroun 2010 and African Union/ECOWAS Senior Leadership Course held in Nigerian Defense College Abuja in 2012.
IGP Ibrahim Idris has received many Commendations and Awards in the course of his career, including the Nigeria Inspector General of Police Commendation Award for his performance as Commandant PMF Training College, Gwoza in 2004, the Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for planning, execution and coordination of security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005 and the Special Representative of the Secretary General’s Award for coordinating major operations in Timor Leste in 2011.
He also bagged two Outstanding Leadership Awards by two United Nations Missions, namely United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2006 and 2009 respectively for his outstanding performance as Operations Coordinator in UNMIL and Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT respectively.
In March 2011, the President of Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta (Nobel Lauret) awarded IGP Ibrahim Idris the Country’s highest National Medal, the “Medal of Merit”, for his contribution to the security and stability of Timor Leste. He served for over seven years in the United Nations. The Officer is married to Barrister Asmau Ndayako Ibrahim and he is blessed with many Children.
His hobbies include watching movies, reading books and indoor exercises.
Written by Adewole Kehinde, a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst based in Abuja.
kennyadewole@gmail.com
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