Photograph — State House photos

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, as the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Idris, before his appointment, headed operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The newly appointed IGP has taken over from Solomon Arase, 60, who retired from the Police Force after reaching the maximum civil service age.

According to the acting Police IG during his inauguration, the new administration will immediately focus on 13 major activities including:

1. Responsive Police Institution.
2. Transparency and accountability in the management of Police Cooperative and Police Insurance Schemes.
3. Strengthening of the Police X-Squad Units to fight corruption amongst civil servants.
4. Cheap and affordable housing for ranks and file.
5. Availability of Police uniforms and accoutrement.
6. Prompt and timely payment of salaries.
7. Establishment of forensic laboratories in the six geopolitical zones in the country.
8. Establishment of Joint Operation Centres in States Police Commands.
9. Establishment of criminal database in all Police divisions nationwide.
10. Reorganisation and restructuring of Special Anti-Robbery Squads.
11. Reorganisation and restructuring of Police Special Units (PMF AND CTU).
12. Posting of female officers to Command positions in states.
13. Establishment of Eminent Persons Forums in the states of the federation.

Who is Ibrahim Kpotun Idris?

Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, was born in Bida, Niger State on the 15th of January 1959. He is married to Barrister Asmau Ndayako Ibrahim and his hobbies include watching movies, reading books and indoor exercises.

Acting IG and his wife
Acting IG Ibrahim Kpotun Idris and his wife

Education

He attended St. Paul Primary School, Sokoto and Government Secondary School, Farfaru Sokoto.

He has two University Degrees: a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and an LLB (Honours) in Law from the University of Maiduguri.

Professional studies

Ibrahim K. Idris took the PMF Conversion course 1987, PMF Operation Management Course and PMF Armoured Personnel Carrier Operation Course, all in Gwoza, between 1987 and 1989.

He also attended the Advanced Detective Course in 1987, Police Intermediate Course in 1997 and Senior Command course in 2003, all in the Police Staff College, Jos. In addition to this, he took Joint Police and Military courses, including a Disaster Management Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 2003.

In September 2012, he took the Leadership and Strategic Studies Courses at the Centre for Management Studies (CMD), Lagos and Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos in February 2013.

Under the United Nations, Ibrahim attended a seminar on reorganisation and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU) at the Centre for Excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004.

The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police also attended the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters in New York in February and September 2009 respectively. Ibrahim also attended a Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Management Course organised by the United States Military Pacific Command and United Nations in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2010.

Acting IG Idris

Career before foreign deployment

Idris was recruited into the Nigeria Police Force as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1984.

Subsequently, he served as Divisional Crime Officer and Traffic Officer in the Gusau Division in the present Zamfara State from January, 1986 to March, 1987.

The new Police boss also served in the Police Mobile Force (PMF) from April 1987 to January 2004.

He was a Mentor to an African Union/United Nations Senior Leadership Seminar in Douala, Cameroon 2010.

Foreign missions and service

Ag. IGP Ibrahim K. Idris led a contingent of Nigerian Police Officers during the United Nations Mission in Liberia on the 1st of February 2004 and was later seconded by the Nigerian Government to the United Nations in March 2005, where he served as Mission Police Operation Coordinator from February 2004 to October 2008.

Idris was later deployed from the United Nation Mission in Liberia to the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT). He served as the Deputy Police Commissioner in-charge of Operations there from October 2008 to March 2011.

The aftermath

Ibrahim K. Idris was appointed the Director, International Peace Keeping Office at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters from 11th April 2011 to 6th July 2011.

The Officer served as Commissioner of Police Kano State Command from 7th July 2011 to 16th February 2013.He was a Mentor to African Union/Ecowas Senior Leadership Course held in Nigerian Defense College Abuja in 2012.He was later posted to Nigeria Police Force Headquarters as the Commissioner of Police, Police Mobile Force in September 2014.

He was later transferred to the Kano State command in 2015 where he conducted the national elections held in 2015.

Before his recent appointment, he was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Acting IG Idris takes over from former IGP, Solomon Arase
Acting IG Ibrahim Kpotun Idris takes over from former IGP, Solomon Arase

The current acting IGP of Nigeria received several awards in the course of his career including:

The Nigerian Inspector General of Police Commendation Award for his performance as Commandant PMF Training College, Gwoza in 2004.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for planning, execution and coordination of security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for coordinating major operations in Timor Leste in 2011.

The Outstanding Leadership Awards by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2006 for his outstanding performance as the Operations Coordinator in UNMIL.

The Outstanding Leadership Awards by United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2009 for his outstanding performance as the Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT.

In March 2011, the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta (Nobel Laureate), awarded Ibrahim the country’s highest national medal, the “Medal of Merit,” for his contribution to the security and stability of Timor Leste.

Notably, The UN Secretary General appointed Mr. Ibrahim as a Police Commissioner in UNAMID, in Darfur. This is the 1st time a Nigerian Police officer is clinching a B2 position for any UN mission in the world. However, the offer was declined to enable him contribute his quarter to ensuring peace and stability immediately during and after the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

Idris addresses
Acting IG Ibrahim Kpotun Idris addresses the Press during his inauguration

Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force

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