Over decades, the Nigeria Police Force has been actively involved in responding to the constitutional call of security, integrity, intelligence, proactivity and other tenets guiding it’s establishment in 1930.
But, one very important factor that needs extreme concentration since it’s long years of existence is WELFARE.
This topical issues has heralded severally and for many years. Amazingly, it remains a debatable issue raised by concerned stakeholders both within and outside the internal security apparatus of Nigeria. It is however saddening that, past administrations of the country and perhaps leadership of the NPF itself, deliberately ignored the dangers and demerits attached to unsatisfactory welfarism of the force men and women who put their lives and sometimes, those of their family members in line for them to actualize absolute security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
It is a global phenomenon that police officers serving in developed countries like the US, UK, Germany, Belgium, Spain, China, Japan amongst others are zealously working as security agents, having at the back of their minds that their family’s future is assured after paying the supreme price while on duty. Sadly, in past police administrations, the welfare of men and women of the force is nothing to write home about.
However, coming on board of the current Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba on 6th of April, 2021 brought a new dimension to the issue of welfarism of men and women of the NPF. The amiable and dutiful number one police officer in the country has taken several commendable steps in correcting the anomalies attached to unsatisfactory welfarism in the force. The 21st indigenous Nigerian inspector general of police has designed strategies targeted towards revamping the living standards of his men. IGP Baba’s almost two years in office has brought about the much anticipated transformation eagerly awaited for by officers of the NPF. The administration of IGP Usman Alkali Baba orchestrated both human and structural development of the force, stability of deployment of officers, instill educational and religious values while also ensuring that the take home pay of an average Nigerian policeman is encouraging
One good turn, they say, deserves another. This is why Nigerians from all walks of like are celebrating the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali. His excited officers are not also left out of the celebration galore.
President Muhammadu Buhari hearkened to the yearnings of Nigerians who are major stakeholders in the security affairs of the country. However, the tenure extension did not come on a platter of gold as the IGP has worked immensely to be given yet another democratic elongation in office. The presidential action was met with a roaring celebration for men of the Nigerian Police Force and the citizenry inclusive. They commend the president for taking this commendable steps of furthering encouraging the IGP to continue steering the ship of the police force for a more valuable years.
The extension, which was contained in a letter to the relevant authorities, put paid to speculations about IGP Usman Alkali Baba’s likely retirement before the general election, starting February 25. Speculations had been rife that Baba might retire before the elections, but Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, clarified the issues to newsmen after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at State House, Abuja.
Dingyadi said the IG would not be retiring midway into the general election, as earlier expected, that his tenure had already been extended by President Muhammad Buhari.
The minister explained that the Police Act 2020 had changed the rules for the IG’s retirement. Answering questions from newsmen on whether or not the IG would retire after clocking the mandatory retirement age of 60 years on March 1, 2023, Dingyadi said, “I don’t know where you got your record, but let me say that by the provisions of the Police Act 2020, the IG is now supposed to have a kind of four-year period and Mr. President has already given him letter of appointment in that regard. So, the issue of IG going out during this election period does not arise.”
There had been concerns over the expected retirement of the IG, three Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), many Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), and 290 other policemen in the first quarter of this year.
Recounting the astronomic contributions of IG Baba to the growth of today’s NPF is like stating the obvious. Under the administration of His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Nigeria Police Force through the remarkable input of the IGP has ensured that the security situation in the country has been significantly stabilized despite the occasional isolated cases of crimes and threats to public safety, peace and security in some parts of the country.
IGP Baba encouraged the Nigeria Police Force to collaborate with the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security and intelligence agencies in the country to spur a common front aimed at reducing crime and criminality nationwide.
The gallant and fearless police administrator rolled out the current geo-mapping of crime in the country and the various measures the Police have put in place to arrest the trend of crime and criminality which includes Operation Puff Adder II aimed at reinforcing the fight against banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country; Operation Restore Peace in the South-South and South-East regions launched to ensure public safety, public order and constitutional authority in the area; expanded intelligence-led operations; intelligence sharing amongst key security agencies; community engagements and public engagements to weaken recruitment drives of criminals with programmes such as Police Campaign against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV); and the deployment of technology through the Nigeria Police National Command and Control Centre (NPF-C4i), Nigeria Police Crime and Incident Database (NPC & IDB) Centre, amongst others.
In addition to these sterling achievements, IGP Usman Alkali Baba introduced in a colourful way, the NPF Rescue me app which is available on both android and ios platforms for the reportage of crimes, unprofessional conducts of Police Officers, and to contact an ambulance in the case of an emergency.
Amongst the measures emplaced to tackle crime is the deliberate and well-coordinated mop-up of illicit weapons in a bid to curtail small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country. These includes raids on the factories were such weapons are manufactured locally, blockage of supply chains and routes across the country, and collaborations with international organizations such as INTERPOL, AFRIPOL, WAPCO, and the IPS.
Some of the achievements of the Nigeria Police during the period under review according to the IGP, include the arrest and ongoing prosecution of numerous notorious criminals suspects suspected terrorists/secessionists; suspected kidnappers; armed robbery suspects; cultism; murder; cybercrime; and rape and other sexual and gender based violence. The recoveries made under his administration includes sophisticated firearms; stolen vehicles; live ammunition and the rescue of kidnap victims unhurt. Asked what the Police is doing about the spate of kidnapping, he stated that the Police have been advocating for non-payment of ransom, however this in most cases lead to situations where people do not want to report to the Police. He said however that the Police has mitigated kidnap instances. He however insisted that the necessary tools to tackle the menace, swift dispensation of justice and adequate technological hardware are keys that would improve the fight against kidnapping.
Barely six months of The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, taking over the mantle of Nigeria Police leadership, precisely on Thursday, 28th October, 2021, he was at the Briefing Room of the Press Office, State House, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, for the State House briefing on the activities of the Nigeria Police Force including its challenges and salient achievements under the administration of His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR.
The IGP who laid emphasis on the reward and punishment policy thrust of his administrations as the 21st Indigenous Inspector General of Police, gave a powerful presentation on the challenges bedeviling the force and how these challenges are being surmounted by the current Management of the Nigeria Police. He stated expressly that the security situation in the country has been significantly stabilized despite the occasional isolated cases of crimes and threats to public safety, peace and security in some parts of the country. He stressed that the Force is currently collaborating with the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security and intelligence agencies in the country to spur a common front aimed at reducing crime and criminality nationwide.
The IGP rolled out the current geo-mapping of crime in the country and the various measures the Police have put in place to arrest the trend of crime and criminality which includes Operation Puff Adder II aimed at reinforcing the fight against banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country; Operation Restore Peace in the South-South and South-East regions launched to ensure public safety, public order and constitutional authority in the area; expanded intelligence-led operations; intelligence sharing amongst key security agencies; community engagements and public engagements to weaken recruitment drives of criminals with programmes such as Police Campaign against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV); and the deployment of technology through the Nigeria Police National Command and Control Centre (NPF-C4i), Nigeria Police Crime and Incident Database (NPC&IDB) Centre, amongst others.
The IGP proceeded to introduce in a colourful way the NPF Rescue me app which he said is available on both android and ios platforms for the reportage of crimes, unprofessional conducts of Police Officers, and to contact an ambulance in the case of an emergency.
Amongst the measures emplaced to tackle crime is the deliberate and well-coordinated mop-up of illicit weapons in a bid to curtail small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country. This includes raids on the factories were such weapons are being manufactured locally, blockage of supply chains and routes across the country, and collaborations with international organizations such as INTERPOL, AFRIPOL, WAPCO, and the IPS.
Some of the achievements of the Nigeria Police during the period under review according to the IGP, include the arrest and ongoing prosecution of 7,036 notorious criminals suspects – 155 suspected terrorists/secessionists; 1,243 suspected kidnappers; 1,845 armed robbery suspects; 1,445 for cultism; 1,183 for murder; 1,110 for cybercrime; and 1,165 for rape and other sexual and gender based violence. The recoveries made under his administration includes 1,717 sophisticated firearms; 341 stolen vehicles; 39,541 live ammunition and the rescue of over 934 kidnap victims unhurt. Asked what the Police is doing about the spate of kidnapping, he stated that the Police have been advocating for non-payment of ransom, however this in most cases lead to situations where people do not want to report to the Police. He said however that the Police has mitigated kidnap instances. He however insisted that the necessary tools to tackle the menace, swift dispensation of justice and adequate technological hardware are keys that would improve the fight against kidnapping.
According to the IGP, the Police currently have over 20,000 active cases at the various courts in the country while over 1,570 convictions have been secured by the Force Legal Section, Abuja only. Some of the key convictions highlighted by the Chief of Police include the upholding of the death penalty for the serial killer, Gracious David-West, who was convicted for the 2019 multiple murders of about 19 females in Port-Harcourt, and the death penalty awarded to both Suleiman Goma and Haruna Idi for the kidnap and murder of a former Vicar-General of Otukpo Diocese, Rev. John Alexander Adeyi, by the Makurdi High Court.
The #EndSARS protest was not left out of the IGPs presentation as he acknowledged the role it played as a catalyst for change in many sectors of the NPF. The Inspector General of Police noted that some of the demands made by protesters have been met while others are being worked on in the interim. For example, he noted that all protesters arrested during the #EndSARS protest were profiled, screened and released unconditionally except those implicated for murder, malicious damage, theft & other serious offences; that the Force Medical Department was immediately empowered to carry out psychological evaluation of police personnel disengaged from the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS); and that the Salary and Wages Commission is working out a new salary structure for the NPF as directed by the President, His Excellency. Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR.
He however noted that the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT) created upon the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is not yet fully operational due to budgetary constraints as the new unit requires specialized kits, weapons, vehicles etc. In the meantime, he pointed out that other tactical investigative teams such as the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), etc. are filling the void created by the disbandment of SARS.
The IGP closed the #EndSARS chapter by giving a summary of the human and infrastructural losses suffered by the Police. Police Officers who were gruesomely murdered during the protests were thirty-seven (37) in number while the estimated financial cost incurred from the loss of Police infrastructures was put at N18.5bn. A pictorial glossary of the 37 officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Police Constable (PC) murdered during the protest was shown by the IGP.
The Police Chief went on to highlight the heights achieved in the area of police reforms with respect to the passage of the Police Act, 2020. Foremost is the IGP’s deliberate protocol to identify, elevate and position professionally competent officers to strategic positions, general and specialized trainings for officers, one of which is the currently concluded training for Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) in both Lagos and Kano states organized in collaboration with a German development agency, GIZ.
IGP Usman Alkali Baba reiterated the commitment of his administration towards improving the general welfare of Police officers via the barrack redevelopment scheme and the establishment of affordable housing for its personnel. Police officers, both serving and retired, have also been captured along with their families for the National Health Insurance Scheme while the Police Medical Services is improving its services with the construction of more police hospitals. He pointed out that a Bill to facilitate the exit of the NPF from the contributory pension scheme is currently before the National Assembly, while the Police has revived its scholarship foundation and intend to incorporate the Nigeria Police Insurance Company to meet the needs of Police Officers particularly the injured and the deceased.
IGP Usman Alkali Baba, a centre of unity for multi-agency collaborations in Nigeria. Healthy interaction, collaboration or cooperation of two or more bodies, organisations, substances, or other agencies produces a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. We can be immeasurably significant or influential when we come together or synergise. Hence, synergism remains one of the most imperative concepts in organisational productivity and personal development. In this discourse, collaboration and synergy will be used interchangeably.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the term “synergy” is derived from the Greek word “sunergos”, which means working together. According to Debbie D. DuFrene (2018), synergy is a concept where two or more people work in one accord to achieve more than they could separately. Synergy has origins as a theological term describing the cooperation of human efforts with divine will. For instance, the Book of Psalms Chapter 133 from verses 1 to 3 says: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing…”
Also, as recounted in Genesis 11:1-9, the building of the tower of Babel in the Holy Bible was almost actualized because of the collaborative efforts of the descendants of Noah in Shinar (Babylonia). In the same vein, in the Holy Quran, synergy was espoused by the lesson recorded in Surah Al-Imran Ayah 103 which says: “We learn the virtue of unity and brotherhood for the sake of Allah … and hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”
It is noteworthy that synergy is as old as the history of man and if we must succeed as a people we must key into the concept of synergy. One of the most beautiful marvels of life is when two or more people come together and commit to working for their mutual benefit. The name Usman Alkali Baba is synonymous with synergy, based on his quest for collaboration amongst security agencies and other sister organizations.
Usman Alkali Baba, immediately after his assumption of office as Inspector General of Police, IGP, paid courtesy visits to the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, principal officers of the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, Director-General of the State Security Service, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chairman NDLEA, among other stakeholders.
The main objective was to rejuvenate the synergy between the Nigeria Police and other governmental agencies for seamless service delivery in Nigeria. These visits revitalized the expected cordial relationships between the Force and other relevant agencies and thus have built a strong bond that has made the policing of our dear nation flawless, meaningful in all ramifications, and more reliable to Nigerians.
In order to restore peace in the society, the Nigeria Police under the leadership of IGP Usman Baba is relentlessly collaborating with the military and other security agencies and relevant stakeholders in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and other wanton behaviours. Some of these joint operations include Operation Safe Haven in Jos, Plateau State; Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara; Operation Yaki in Kaduna State; Special Forces Joint Operations in the North-East; and Operation Golden Dawn in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Others include Operation Still Water II in Akwa Ibom and some parts of the South-South, Operation Akpako in Cross River State, Operation Delta Hawk in Delta State, etc. The aforementioned operations have recorded many successes in the fight against crimes and criminalities in Nigeria and by extension in the West Africa sub-region.
Currently, there is the Advanced Detective Course, ADC, at the Police Staff College, Jos, Plateau State, where all security agencies in the country gathered as one big family for various theoretical and practical training exercises on novel strategic approaches to stemming evolving dimensions of crimes and criminalities. This included, but is not limited to, the application of modern technologies to fighting the asymmetric nature of insecurity. In addition, this inventive programme by the IGP promotes the needed bonds among officers across various security agencies, and it is a fertile collaboration for the smooth discharge of their constitutional duties. Certificates of attendance were issued to participants after the successful completion of the refresher course.
IGP Alkali Baba, a one-time directing staff of the College, understands the infrastructural challenges of the training college and has put in place adequate and befitting resources and facilities that will make the citadel of knowledge, where competent officers are expectedly produced, compete with the international standards.
Again, at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Police workshop on Election Security Management, which was held on August 4, 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, the top echelon of the military, security agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria were in attendance. They included the Chief of the Defence Staff, CDS; all the service chiefs and heads of other security agencies and MDAs. This was clear reciprocation of love that the person of “Alkali Baba” has extended to them.
Also, the Police boss honoured the Nigerian Navy Games which was held in Ojo, Lagos, sometime in September. In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo recently graced the occasion of the 13th Biennial Police Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. During the event, the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Immigration, Customs, Civil Defence and Fire Service participated actively and won prizes. This is unarguably a tell-all synergy between the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in Nigeria.
Summarily, IGP Alkali Baba has successfully synchronized the security architecture of Nigeria through his simplicity, exemplary leadership style, tolerance, spirit of sportsmanship and patriotism. In fact, he should be referred to as synergy personified!
