President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday told the new Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, to immediately reduce the myriad of security problems facing the nation to the barest minimum.
This was said after the Nigeria Police Council made up of the president, vice-president, 36 state governors, Ministers of Police Affairs, Interior and the Federal Capital Territory, confirmed Baba as IG.
The new police boss in his remarks touched on the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and herders, saying his administration will checkmate their activities and rid the country of every other criminal activity.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the one and a half hour meeting presided over by President Buhari at the Conference Hall of the First Lady at the State House, Abuja, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, said Baba was unanimously confirmed by all council members in attendance.
He said: “The meeting started with the usual presentation of tactics by the Inspector General, which fortunately because of his track record, was unanimously confirmed.
“Mr President used the opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment and called on him to ensure that he is worthy of the confidence reposed in him. He tasked him rise to the challenge and ensure that the insecurity that the country is facing is brought to the barest minimum.
“The IG assured Mr President and Nigerians that he is going to work assiduously to ensure that the responsibilities assigned to him are brought to bear and executed to the best of his abilities and to the satisfaction of all Nigerians.”
Also speaking, Baba said he briefed the council on the threat to national security across the six geo-political zones emphasising on zones peculiarities.
He said: “There are peculiarities. Like I said before, in the South-east and South-south is the issue of secessionist agenda championed by IPOB. I also talked about terrorism and religious bigotry in the North-east. I also talked about the issue of kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and cultism as it affects the North-central and North-west and South-west. I gave a synopsis in terms of what we are doing to address this situation. I also thanked Mr President for providing additional logistics in terms of carrying out our duties and responsibilities.”
