who proceeds on retirement after clocking the age of 60 years.
Both the outgoing IGP and his successor yesterday met with Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja for a few minutes where the new police chief was presented to the media.
Idris is expected to serve in acting capacity until his confirmation by the Police Council and later by the National Council of State. In his remarks, Arase thanked the president for the opportunity to serve the country and Nigerians for the support he received during the period of his headship in the police. He enjoined Nigerians to also give his successor the same level of cooperation. “I want to formally introduce my successor, AIG Idris, he is going to be in acting capacity until the Police Council confirms,” Arase noted.
He continued: “I want to seize this opportunity to thank Nigerians for the cooperation given me while I served as Inspector-General of Police, by extension I want to also appeal to you to give the same support that you gave to me to my successor.
“He is a younger man, so I am sure he will be abreast with the contemporary policing issues.” The Acting Inspector General of Police, Idris, previously served as Com missioner of Police in Nasarawa and Kano states. Speaking to State House Correspondents, the Acting IGP said: “Honestly, by collective leadership, the Nigerian police is going to be governed by internationally- recognised core values of policing everywhere in the world.
“That is the issue of integrity and accountability, issue of respect for diversity, issue of compassion, issues of ensuring that our streets, our neighbourhoods, our communities remain safe.
“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that we provide the best service to this country.” The Acting IGP, who hails from Kutigi, Lavun in Niger State, was born on January 15, 1959, and was enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a Bachelor degree in Agriculture.
He also holds a degree in Law from the University of Maiduguri. AIG Idris has served in various commands and formations in the Nigerian Police Force, working in the Police Mobile Force for 17 years as Unit Commander, Squadron Commander, and Commandant.
He served as Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa and Kano states and was also the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force at the Force Headquarters.
He was also at the United Nations Mission in Liberia and East Timor and was awarded “Medal of Merit” by the President of the Republic of East Timor in recognition of his service. Idris was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters before his appointment.
The implication of the appointment of Idris is that all the seven serving Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) of Police, who constitute the Police Management Team (PMT), hitherto headed by the outgone IGP, Arase, will proceed on retirement.
This is so in the light of the fact that as DIGs, who are senior to the new IGP, who was until his appointment an Assistant Inspector- General (AIG) of Police, they cannot salute him as their boss.
The DIGs that are likely to retire, consequent upon Idris’ appointment, are: Messrs Dan Azumi Doma (Finance and Administration), Mamman Tsafe (Logistics and Supply), Hashimu Argungu (Training), Kakwe C. Katso (Investigations), S. L Wakama (Operations), Jubril Adeniji (Research and Training), and Chintua Amajor-Onu (ICT).
