Mba, Babaji, 18 others redeployed, as IGP orders total security for Easter celebrations

Newly-promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr Frank Mba, and Babaji Sunday are among a list of 20 senior police officers redeployed to new formations in the Nigeria Police Force and ‘with immediate effect.’

Mba was only recently redeployed from the Border Patrol Command at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to Ogun as the state’s commissioner of police, along with Mr. Idowu Owohunwa in Lagos, in February, just days ahead of the start of the 2023 General Elections, will now head the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID Annex) in Lagos, while AIG Babaji Sunday moves to the Kaduna Axis of the same formation.

A statement confirming the redeployments signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Saturday, said following the movements directed by Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, the affected officers are to resume at their new duty posts ‘with immediate effect.’

Adejobi also added that the directive ‘is in line with the IGP’s mandate and strategies to strengthen the operational structures of commands, departments, and formations.’

The full list of officers and their new formations include:  AIG Zone 14 Katsina-AIG Ahmed Abdulrahman;

AIG Police Mobile Force-AIG Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje; AIG Special Protection Unit -AIG Matthew Akinyosola; AIG Zone 12 Bauchi-AIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi; AIG Maritime Lagos-AIG Yekini Adio Ayoku; AIG Zone 13 Ukpo Dunukofia – AIG Olofu Tony Adejoh; AIG Zone 7 Abuja-AIG Aliyu Garba; AIG ICT FHQ Abuja-AIG Idris Dabban Dauda; AIG Research & Development – AIG Yusuf Ahmed Usman; AIG Zone 4 Makurdi – AIG Haladu M. Ros-Amson.

Others are: AIG Zone 8 Lokoja-AIG Babatunde B. Ishola; AIG Counter Terrorism Unit – AIG Alexander N. Wannang; AIG Zone 2 Lagos -AIG Ari M. Ali; AIG Zone 9 Umuahia-AIG Mamman Sanda Umar; Commandant Police Academy, Wudil – AIG Sadiq I. Abubakar; AIG FCID Annex Lagos – AIG Frank Emeka Mba; AIG Zone 16 Yenagoa – AIG Benjamin N. Okolo; AIG DTD FHQ Abuja – AIG Oyediran A. Oyeyemi; AIG FCID Annex Kaduna – AIG Babaji Sunday; AIG Zone 5 Benin – AIG Arungwa Nwazue Udo; and Force Transport Officer – AIG Yusuf C. Usman.

“The IGP has charged all newly posted and redeployed officers to put their best foot forward in ensuring that the activities of their new Commands, Formations, and Departments align with the Police Reform mandate.

“He also tasked them to ensure compliance with all standard operating procedures in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“The posting is with immediate effect,” the statement read.

It would be recalled that IGP Alkali decorated newly promoted Senior Police Officers with their new ranks in the presence of their families, friends, and professional colleagues, during a ceremony Friday in Abuja.

IGP Alkali said the development followed the recent promotion approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to deserving officers who have the requisite experience, years of dedicated service and academic records.

A total of 58 Senior Police Officers were decorated comprising Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Adeolu Olukayode Egbetokun, mni, who was until his promotion the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja; twenty-four (24) Assistant Inspectors-General of Police including AIGs Matthew Akinyosola, Jonathan Towuru, Abiodun Alabi, Akande Sikiru, Abimbola Shokoya, Yekini Ayoku, Olofu Adejoh, Aliyu Garba, Idrisu Dabban, Yusuf Usman, Haladu Ros-Amson, Babaita Ishola, Alexander Wannang, Ari Muhammed, Mamman Sanda, Sadiq Abubakar, Frank Mba, Benjamin Okolo, Oyediran Oyeyemi, Babaji Sunday, Arungwa Udo, Yusuf Chiromawa, and thirty-three Commissioners of Police.

Alkali urged the newly promoted senior officers to internalize and uphold the tenets of the Presidential Police Reform Agenda while emphasizing respect for fundamental human rights and rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution of the country.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Baba has ordered in-depth security checks and patrols of all public spaces and essential government assets.

The IGP also assured Nigerians of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and visitors to the country during the period.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement, Friday.

“All State Commissioners of Police (CPs) and their supervising Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) have been ordered to ensure efficient deployment of police personnel, and operational assets to areas of likely security threats within their respective areas of responsibility (AoRs).

“The IGP equally charged all supervising officers that intensive and proactive visibility patrols should be carried out at all worship centres, train stations, highways, motor parks, airports, waterways, recreation centres, banks, and other financial institutions.

“Necessary precautions should also be taken to ensure a crime-free and peaceful environment for religious, cultural, and other socio-economic activities and boost the confidence of the general public.

“In addition, the IGP has directed that all officers and men deployed for these duties must be properly supervised to ensure professional and courteousness to law-abiding citizens but firm and ruthless to criminal elements who might want to take the advantage of the festive period to perpetrate their unholy and criminal acts.

“While felicitating with Nigerians, and the Christian community in particular, on the commemoration of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the IGP appreciates the citizens for their support and calls on them to continually cooperate with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies by providing prompt and actionable information that would help in the prevention and detection of crime.”