By Akinwale Kasali
The Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate postings of new Commissioners of Police to eight States. The States include Rivers and Imo States where demands had been made by not a few people from the States for the removal of their former Commissioners of Police.
Posted to man the Rivers State Police Command is CP Tunde Disu. He takes over from CP Emeka Nwonyi who ran into troubled waters following the face-off between the State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister for the Federal Capital Territory. Scores of Youths, mainly Ijaw, embarked on a protest for his removal after Fubara alleged that Police Operatives stationed at the State House of Assembly used water canon on him as well as shot directly at him when he visited to assess the damage at the Assembly Complex following an arson attack.
The new CP Imo is Danjuma Aboki. He takes over from CP Mohammed Barde whose tenure in the State was enmeshed in a number of controversies leading to a constant request for his removal by many people, especially, members of opposition Political Parties.
The last straw was the brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Owerri, Imo State by Police Operatives when Ajaero went to organise a protest against the State Government over issues that concern Workers’ welfare.
The other new CPs posted to lead different State Commands, as part of the ongoing measures towards strengthening security, tackling violent crimes, and enhancing optimal coordination of policing operations across Nigeria are:
*CP George Chuku, Benue State Command.
*CP Ahmed Tijani, Jigawa State Command
*CP Dan Shawulu, Niger State Command.
*CP Usman Hayatu, Gombe State Police Command.
*CP Isyaku Muhammed to OSS Command.
The new appointments were contained in a signal already dispatched indicating that the senior police officers’ redeployments are with immediate effect.
Egbetokun charged the CPs to demonstrate their professional competence in their new offices.
