WORRIED by the growing insecurity in the country and the inability of the police to curtail the ugly development, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar, has ordered the immediate transfer of all general duty police personnel of all ranks in all formations  and commands, including Police Training institutions, who had  spent more than two years in their present duty stations.

The order was contained in a police signal with Ref.CB:4092/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/20 dated 2nd August, 2012 and signed by the force secretary, Assistant Inspector General of Poice, Dan'Azumi J Doma, which was copied all Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), zonal headquarters, commandants of police colleges and state Police Commissioners, among others, for immediate action.

According to the signal, which was obtained exclusively by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, the IGP lamented that some general duty officers and other ranks  had stayed more than 10 years in their present duty posts and as  such some officers “tend to fraternise with criminals in their localities.”

He said, ''as a result of unhealthy familiarisation they have been reduced to local land speculators, local politicians or get mixed up in family or chieftaincy tussles.''

According to him,''the above highlighted issues, to say the least, do not only adversely affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the Force in the discharge of its statutory duties, but limit the optimum utilisation and deployment of personnel, as well as hamper their exposure on the various aspects of the profession.”

Following this development, the IGP directed that henceforth, ''the normal tenure of service for general duty police personnel of all ranks in all formations and commands, including police training institutions should not exceed two years'' except otherwise permitted by him.

In addition, ''the IGP directs that officers and men should not be repeated on the same duty post earlier vacated until it is absolutely necessary.''

Though the Force Public Relatons Officer (FPRO), Mr Frank Mba, could not be immediately reached for comments, a very senior officer at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, confirmed the story in confidence to the Nigerian Tribune, saying that it was part of the ongoing efforts to reposition the police for greater efficiency.

Comments (22)

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written by Omofoma, August 07, 2012

I think this is a wrong decision, and will not serve meaningful purpose. Its ia ploy against State Police. By this the family of Policemen will be in dissaray moving from one state to the other. Someone cannot Police the area he has no knowledge off.

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written by Dr. Bewaji Sunday Olofintila, August 07, 2012

The IGP is chasing shadow with that kind of inhuman decision. Can any government tell teacher's to relocate every two years in an attempt to improve on the quality of education? Can the IGP himself feel good with this kind of arrangement if he was in the shoes of these officers? I know that police in Nigeria are in the same categories as the criminals of Nigeria, but please IG Mohammed, your approach to policing cannot solve a wink of the criminality diet in Nigeria but exasperate it. Please, find a better solution. But alas, there is no way you can improve policing in Nigeria, because the system is entirely over-stressed to a disaster point. Any serious improvement in the policing in Nigeria would have to come from a reasonable amendment of the constitution and a re-orientation of policing itself to protect the citizen of the country rather than the interests of a cabal of government officials. Nigeria is overspent.

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Mr
written by Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama, August 07, 2012

My love for the new IGP keeps increasing by the day. He keeps reading my mind. I could do a lot to assist if having his contact. However, so far so good.

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Mr.
written by Okey Enyaogu, August 07, 2012

This is one of the best decisions taken so far by the IGP. My worry is that police might not sustain this position. We might not be surprised that some corrupt police personnel would bribe their ways to be retained within their so called fraternity zone. Some will certainly embark on the transfer only to be back within 2 months after their transfer. How will the IGP's dream be actualized when he has a handful of men of low integrity in his organization. It is just God and not the police that will alleviate the crime rate in the society. I thank Mr. IGP for his zeal to correct the situation.

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ALHAJI
written by AMINU YEKINI ADEBAYO, August 07, 2012

IGP has taken a very interesting decision i really thank ALLAH that gave him this idea i belief it will work may ALLAH guide you sir please carry on Nigerians are with you

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written by FUNMI OMOLOLU, August 07, 2012

GO, MD, GO!!! SO FAR, SO GOOD! MORE GREASE TO YOUR ELBOWS! ORI NIGERIANS A GBE E O!

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written by Tajudeen Adeyemi, August 07, 2012

This is a good decision. Anybody who opposes this idea should be investgated. They are likely to be those people behind all the bad incidence in our country

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Mr.
written by uroko, August 07, 2012

Im not suprised at the order. I know that IGP will like to post his nothern muslim brothers to southern Nigeria and southerners to go to northern part of the country to go and fight islamic insurgents. But lets keep our fingers crossed and see the likely mass resignation should they carry out the arbitrary order.

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How effective is the mass transfer
written by Love Korfa, August 07, 2012

As usual, will this not be another opportunity for police officers to lobby for juicy postings? How long will this development last. Will this address the problem of frequent robbery incidents on our highways on daily basis?
Will two years be enough to consolidate achievements in a particular division? What about the welfare of these officers which is always in the pipeline? When is it going to take effect?
God bless Nigeria.

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Mr
written by Abdullahi Hanwa, August 07, 2012

I believe this could be a good decision when implemented effectively. My opinion should be that officers be transfered within (intra) the state not inter except where one must have stayed in one particular state for more than 8 years. However if the IGP is serious about this he must ensure that transfer allowance are paid to officers because information available to us is that such allowance are never paid in the police organization even though the public service rules made provision for it. Also the IGP should also look at and address the accommodation problems officers will face if such order is carried out.

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POLICE FRATERNITY WITH CRIMINAL
written by TUNJI OMO AWO, August 07, 2012

Transfer in general terms is not the solution, the transfer should be limited to the policemen on lucratives post as at now, not all are opportuned to have extra salaries postings since they join the police force. My view, despite the fact that transfer is a routine assignment in the force,plse IGP you have to look for a sincere and trustworthy teams/committee to do this transfers for u, otherwise u are greassing the palms of AC ADMIN to complete is projects. In addition, i suggest, u leave costable out of this transfer or else u kill their morale completely, for this cadre to transport their families to whereever the posting read will be a dificult one. KUDOS to u IGP ! I can see u are sweating to make Nigeria great and make it security threat free.

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written by gordon, August 07, 2012

Its disapointing that so call inspector general of police doesnt get.....mass transfer doesnt solve the security problem in the country....have you consider the impact the mass transfer is going to have in the life of the police men and woemn family its self.....how would they get to know the first local knowlege of there new area....and how would they have sound menatl ability to combact the crime when they are worried about the family they have been seprated from...............its shame Nigeria has never have a good IG of police who know all about administration and security...what shame

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Mr
written by WHEELS, August 07, 2012

The IGP should be commended for this bold directive. Im aware in my locality where some group of police men have turn themselves to local lords because they have stayed longer than necessary. Compliment these actions with improved training and equipments for better operational efficiency. However, the transfer should not be politicized and the IG should find ways and means of auditing the mass transfer

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it's a good idea but......
written by Sharia Coke, August 07, 2012

it's a good idea but can the IGP provide accommondation and pay them inconvinience allowance? i visited a police friend who was transfered newly to a state in the eastern part of Nigeria where they are sleeping is an eyesore, he told me that this how every policeman suffers when being transfered and there is no allowances please IGP address this issue before you transfer your officers/men, thank you

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written by jcom_1, August 07, 2012

This will only serve to spread the message of BH and her killing machine throughout the federation. We all know that the Nigerian Police Force especially in the North are deeply entrenched in BH, (even the president says they are in his government). As they are transferred, BH goes with them to source for new grounds of killings and spreading their message of hatred and Islamic conversion with the aid of their police prodigies. SHAME on the Nigerian Police Force, SHAME on Nigerian government. SHAME!!

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Transfer Will not Solve Crime
written by Baba Adini, August 07, 2012

IGP can transfer police every one month, it is not going to stop crime. Previous IGP was fired for failure to solve Bokum Haram terrorism, but the situation got worse. Solution to crime is effective policing with neighborhood watch. Police without weapons, no armor bearer, no organized phone system, no vehicles for patrol, no continuous training, no tactical paramedic embedded for operations, no quick response team, no disability insurance, poor pension scheme, salaries are delayed or in arrears is no match watch unemployed graduates who venture into crime for lack of jobs after 10 to 20 years unemployment

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@ Dr Bewaji. Re;Nigerian Police fraternizing with criminals
written by Adisa Adigun, August 07, 2012

I noticed during my youth service year at Ondo that each time a new Police DPO arrives in town, there always increased police activities and increase in the number of armed robbers arrested, injured and brought to the hospital. These police activities decrease the longer the DPO is in the area. constant transfer is part of police life in Nigeria and it also reduces the chances of police becoming paid protectors to criminals in the area. anybody that joins the Nigerian police should be ready for constant transfer unlike in developed world where police are under local administrations. Any experimentto reduce the alarming crime rate and it's surffistication is better than doing nothing. tell us how it is done in Jamaica with an equally high crime rate as in Nigeria and with the same pattern of police collaborating with criminals as in Nigeria. Maybe your Jamaica experience can help Nigeria police.

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Re-Mass transfer of policemen.
written by Omooba Adeyemi, August 07, 2012

This is the second sound decision the new IGP will take since he assumed office, I hope he will ensure its fruition like the first one, erradication of Roadblocks in Nigerian roads. The IGP will face stiff opposition from within and outside the force, he should not bother by these oppositions but remain focussed, and I'm sure the end will jusitfy the means.
Though initially it will be painful to Policemen that will be affected by the new order, but they should know that "There is no Gain without Pain" and at the end they would be proud of the policy.

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Improving Police
written by Police Chief David Couper, August 07, 2012

This transfer policy may or may not solve the problem. Corruption is usually more deeply rooted. Of course it is a lot easier to talk about reforming our police than doing it. For the most part, police throughout the world are the same. And the same insights and direction for improving them hold true. Police should be well-trained, restrained in their use of force, honest, and courteous to all. To take a look at what I learned about improving police, read my new book and visit my blog, “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com). And my blog is at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com where I discuss these and other current police improvement issues. Good luck and may we all experience not just good but great policing throughout the world!

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It is good well done.
written by Nosa osa, August 07, 2012

I pray God should give him wisdom to go about and to be more effiecent in Jesus name

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