As the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris expires this week, on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, President Muhammadu Buhari may soon appoint a new IGP, following his promise to act on the matter.
Buhari had said in an interview with Arise TV that though the choice of a new service chief evokes unnecessary competition, he would act on the matter of Idris’ imminent retirement.
Idris’ tenure expires on January 15, 2019, when he turns 60.
President Buhari is still putting close to his chest the final decision on whether he would extend Idris’ tenure or appoint a new IGP.
If the President has to choose a new IGP, sources say he may look in the direction of the South-east. The outgoing IGP Idris is from Lavun, Kutigi in Niger State.
In the South-east zone, there are two known top officers, one a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, a woman, and the other an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
Both of them were course mates and promoted into the AIG rank at the same time.
DIG Peace Ibemere Abdallah, who is at present the DIG Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation (CIID), Abuja, is said to be a highly effective, versatile and professional police officer.
One top officer said she is no less qualified than any other but given the increasing crime wave and sophistication of criminals, believed to be mostly men, the question some have asked is whether the country was ripe at present for a female IGP.
He is said to be another thoroughbred professional police officer, highly cosmopolitan and detribalised.
Though an Igbo man, Nwobodo was bred in Yorubaland where he had his elementary, secondary and university education in the South-west and also performed his mandatory National Youth Service scheme in the zone.
Nwobodo has held very sensitive positions and performed critical assignments. He was the Commissioner of Police (Courses) at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, before his recent promotion to the rank of AIG.
