Arase takes over as IGP, Abba bows out

IGP Arase in his inaugural speech vowed to propel the police back to its lost primacy within the internal security architecture of the country.

He said a strategic document which encapsulates intelligence-led policing, community partnership, restorative justice, reassuring policing and healthy respect for human rights will be developed in due course.

Arase said the immediate test of the new leadership of the Police will be the successful conduct of re-run elections in some states and the delivery of hitch free Presidential, Governorship and National/ State Assembly inauguration ceremonies at Federal and State levels.

He said these are the: “two major national assignments where our professional expertise and commitment will once again be subjected to national and international scrutiny.”

While noting that the police have the operational capacity to ensure success in both exercises, he added that the unique intelligence assets of the force will be deployed including massive deployment of officers, men and materials to the affected areas to prevent social disorder.

Earlier, the outgoing IGP Suleiman Abba said: “we started at a time it was very difficult. We were getting ready for elections, politics had picked up and all attention was elections. We kept doing our best and the elections are almost over.”

While thanking all stake holders for ensuring a peaceful election, Abba noted that: “it is not over yet, elections are not concluded in some states, give the new leadership more support to get the election through.”

Abba said his management team was focused on ensuring attitudinal change in the police force, stating that: “I hope that one day we would see a complete change in the attitude of police officers across the service.”