Breaking: Police Council confirms Alkali as Nigeria’s Inspector General

The Police Council has confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as the Inspector General of Police, almost two months after President Muhammadu Buhari approved his appointment. 

Usman Alkali was confirmed on Friday during a meeting of the council in Abuja presided over by President Buhari.

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, confirmed the development at the end of the one and half hours meeting, said he was unanimously confirmed.

President Buhari had on April 6, Usman Baba as acting the Inspector General of Police.

The minister said Buhari directed him to ensure insecurity is brought to the barest minimum. Baba was a Deputy Inspector General of Police before his promotion.

While serving as Acting inspector-general of police (IGP), he launched a special operation to curb the increasing violence in the south-east.

He had charged policemen serving in the Southeast region to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements and secessionists that may attempt to take the risk of testing their will. He also said the policemen must be firm with criminal elements that may be threatening the citizens within their area of jurisdiction.

The police IG said the ‘Operation Restore Peace’ launched in Enugu is part of a new plan to protect residents and facilities in the five states in the region.

He also accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being behind the violence, adding that the group’s activities have caused “unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence” in the states.

There has been a spike in criminal attacks in the south-east with security and government agencies increasingly targeted.