IGP Alkali’s First Year In Office’s Scorecard Gives Hope to Nigerian Police

The first anniversary of the 21st indigenous Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has drawn congratulations and encomiums from police officers and well-meaning Nigerians. An intensive twelve month of action packed police operations, shuttle diplomacy and astute leadership has raised the hope of both officers in enhanced welfare, and citizens’ assurance of security, safety and law and order.  Citizens may recall that IGP Alkali became Inspector-General of Police of the NPF when the Force was reeling from the aftermath of the chaos of the Endsars protest in which the morale of police officers was at its lowest. His first task was to travel round the country boosting the morale of officers, reassuring them of the value of police work and sharing solidarity with victims of the gruesome occupational hazard of any Police Force in the world.

This has paid off.

Operation Restore Peace was launched to stabilize and secure the South- south and South East with glaring results. According to the governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike, the IGP’s Operational Policies have resulted in the safety and security of Rivers state. His vision of “strategic planning and operational models that are directed at stabilizing internal security and modernizing police operations” has been tested and endorsed.

On assumption of duty, IGP Alkali stated that his appointment and the confidence reposed in him by Mr. President and indeed the country at large represent a call to duty and a charge to restore the deteriorating primacy of the Nigeria Police Force within the internal security architecture of the Nation. He assured all Nigerians of his determination to draw on his policing leadership experience to provide the highest level of professional and responsible leadership for a Police Force that will take the lead in the internal security operations through the deployment of cutting-edge policing technology; integrating intelligence-led-policing practices to core policing functions, with a view to strengthening police capacity to stabilize the internal security order; and restoring public confidence in the Force.

The Police boss did promise that several well-thought-out reform initiatives directed at restoring the traditional policing standards of the Force shall be vigorously pursued in all aspects of policing functions, particularly in the operations, intelligence, investigation, training, science and technology and innovation, and monitoring and evaluation within the Force.

In the fight against all forms of crimes and criminality, the IGP did assure that the Force under his watch will not tolerate the activities of some unscrupulous elements which have continued to threaten our national peace and progressive co-existence. That he will evolve new policing strategies to address the internal security challenges facing our country and fight heinous crimes head-on through effective and efficient deployment of the intelligence and operational assets of the Force.

Since assumption of duty on 7th April, 2021, the following, amongst others, are some of the milestone achievements, particularly in the fight against banditry, terrorism and other heinous crimes recorded by the Police under the viable leadership of IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the 21st indigenous Inspector-General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria:

*              Launch of “Operation Restore Peace” in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones in 2021 to stabilize the regions.

*              Launch of “Operation Sahara Storm” in January 2022 in Sokoto State.

*              Arrest and ongoing prosecution of Thirteen Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven Two (13,972) notorious criminal suspects for offences of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, cultism and other violent crimes and recovery of sophisticated and locally fabricated firearms/large catchment of live ammunition. These include dismantled criminal gangs terrorizing innocent individuals on major highways across the country.

*              4,117 suspected bandits/terror elements were arrested across the country in less than one year.

*              2,554 suspected kidnappers

*              3,789 armed robbery suspects arrested;

*              2,331 arrested for cultism

*              1,181murder suspects arrested;

*              4,923 sophisticated and locally fabricated firearms and two (3) rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher recovered from criminal elements;

*              198,399 large catchment of live ammunition recovered across the country.

*              2,414 stolen vehicles were also recovered from criminal elements.

*              Rescue of over 3,533 kidnapped victims unhurt by Police Operatives across the nation.

*              Also, over 1,027 suspects have been arrested in connection with Rape and other Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the country from April, 2021 to date.

*              It is pertinent to note that the most recent landmark achievement in the fight against banditry and terrorism took place between 20th to 29th January, 2022 in Sokoto where operatives of Operation Sahara Storm and other Police tactical units neutralized over 38 suspected bandits/terrorists and recovered thirty-two (32) AK-47 rifles, one (1) Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher, one thousand four hundred and twelve (1,412) 7.62mm live ammunition, one thousand two hundred (1,200) rounds of live AA ammunition, one (1) locally fabricated revolver pistol, three (3) motor vehicles, and two (2) motorcycles, ten (10) cartons of Pentazocine BP 30 Injections, cash sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N800,000.00) and three (3) pairs of Army camouflage uniform were recovered during the operation.

Acquisition of highly efficient drones that would be deployed for surveillance to checkmate criminal activities in the country.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Trust fund, provision of over 200 buffalo branded operational vehicles and other security hardware to boost internal security in the country.

Tour of States in all the geopolitical zones to personally assess Security deployments in the troubled parts

Improved collaboration with the Ministry of Police Affairs and synergy with other security and safety agencies to fight crimes and criminality across the country.

Strategic meetings and Community engagement with stakeholders as a strategy for community involvement in finding solutions to the spate of insecurity in the Country.

Establishment of a new Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base in Akwa Ibom to boost security in the state.

Distribution of kits and body armours to all commands and formations, etc.

This great feat attained by the IGP is in line with his vision of integrating cutting-edge technology, intelligence-led policing model, operational and investigative functions to strengthen the capacity, and to stabilize internal security, in order to restore public confidence in the Force.

The police boss is undoubtedly living up to the expectations of Nigerians in the fight against crime and criminality in Nigeria. He has demonstrated that he is a seasoned police officer with exemplary leadership qualities worthy of emulation. With IGP Alkali, the Nigeria Police Force is set for transformation and reinvention.