35 officers may lose MOPOL commands to IGP’s reforms

There are indications that effort by the Acting Inspector General of police, Mohammed Abubakar, to reorganize the elite Mobile Police Squadrons in the country and inject new blood by easing out those considered tired officers and those not performing up to expectation, is steering controversy in the Police force.


If the move eventually sails through, no fewer than 35 out of about 57 commanders of PMF Squadrons across the country may soon lose their commands as they are of the rank of Superintendent of police.
Saturday Vanguard learnt that some Squadron Commanders who felt that their planned removal by the IG was unjustified, have protested to their presidency and senior Police Godfathers to advise him against such witch-hunting moves.

Saturday Vanguard can confirm however, that shortly before the former Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim was retired, a process was on ground to remove most of the Squadron Commanders of MOPOL units that have served over three years, as that was the mandatory period a Squadron Commander was earmarked to serve before redeployment.

Consequently,17 Squadron Commanders whose tour of duty had been completed were directed to de-mob and await redeployment resulting in certain insinuations that Ringim was planning to install his loyalists before vacating office. It was gathered that while the present IG in his estimation feels officers of the rank of CSP should be tasked with such jobs due to experience in the force, those with sympathy to junior officers like Superintendent [SP] feel such appointment should be based on fitness and ability to perform. Already, a proposal to this effect has reportedly been made to the IGP via a memo by the commissioner of police in charge of the PMF, Mr. Philemon Leha. It was said to have been written on the directives of Abubakar, who sources hinted, was set to give approval.

However, dissenting voices are said to be emanating from retired and serving top officers within the police community, as well as some powerful forces involved in security matters at the presidency, who have queried the timing and rationale behind the action.

In opposing the ongoing move to flush out all squadron commanders of the rank of Superintendent from the PMF, some retired senior Police officers and the presidency sources argued that age, mental and physical fitness, as well as competence should form the yardstick for appointment of squadron commanders rather than rank as being initiated by the new IGP.

“Why is it that most of the IGPs start their tenure with a particular interest on the PMF as soon as they are appointed? Why must it always first be the PMF if not for vested interests? What is the big deal about the rank of SP and CSP? Why must we jettison competence and performance for minor considerations especially at this time when the nation is facing serious security challenges? a retired officer queried.

It was also revealed that  the new IGP is on the verge of discarding the result of a screening exercise conducted by the immediate past IGP, to fill up about 17 existing vacancies for PMF squadron commanders which may not go down well with some senior officers in the force. (Vanguard)