Mohammad Abubakar Adamu has been officially announced as the new acting Inspector General of Police. He was decorated today by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House.
Adamu replaced the former police chief, Ibrahim Idris, who retired after spending 35 years in the force on January 3rd.
His retirement was announced after the Coalition of Opposition Political Parties, CUPP threatened to embark on the mass protest on January 15 should the president dithers to remove him.
Born on November 9, 1961, the new police boss was the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
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He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and joined the police force in 1986. He hails from Lafia in Nasarawa state.
Adamu was formerly a director of peacekeeping operations and one-time commissioner of police in Enugu.
On the other hand, the outgoing IGP was born on January 15, 1959, and was recruited into the Police force in 1984. He was appointed by President Buhari in 2016.
Idris’ tenure as IGP has been characterised by controversies ranging from outright disobedience of presidential orders to allegations of corruption and nepotism and attack on freedom of expression.
In January 2018, Idris infamously disobeyed President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives that he should relocate to Benue State in order to quell the herdsmen/farmers clashes that had claimed dozens of lives in the state.
He paid a brief visit to the state but left 24 hours later. Buhari would later say he had no idea that the IGP flouted his orders.
Idris has also been accused of pocketing billions of naira in bribes from big companies and wealthy individuals in order to provide them with special police protection. He was also said to have granted police officers from his Nupe ethnic group special and accelerated promotions.
He has denied all the allegations and Isah Misau, a former police officer-turned Senator, who made the allegations, is currently facing libel charges before the FCT High Court.
In a recent interview, Buhari had admitted responsibility for the poor performances of the heads of security agencies in Nigeria, including the IGP, but he promised to take action.