Dambazau blames ex-IGP Idris for strained ties between police, interior ministry

Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, has blamed Ibrahim Idris, former inspector-general of police (IGP), for the strained relationship between the police and his ministry.

The minister was speaking on Tuesday in Abuja when Mohammed Adamu, acting IGP, paid him a courtesy visit.

Dambazzau said the ministry enjoyed a cordial relationship with the police during the tenure of Solomon Arase, a former IGP, but it went sour when Idris took over.

He said the ministry had presented 25 memoranda to the federal executive council (FEC) for deliberations, but none included the police.

“We are happy that you took this step because since early 2016, shortly after I came in as Minister in November 2015, I had a very cordial relationship with the then IGP, Solomon Arase, but when Arase left, there was the severance of relations between the police and the ministry of interior,” the minister said.

“It was not completely though because most of our dealings in terms of internal security and public safety were with the DIG Operations and because we must do everything possible to ensure that we not only carry our supervisory mandate in terms of policy but also to ensure that police as an institution does not suffer.

“We are indeed glad that you came in with an absolutely different idea regarding this relationship. Throughout three years, we have presented more than 25 memoranda to FEC that have to do with policies concerning the country, but none of them involved the police except few that came from Police Academy, Wudil.

“So, this is the kind of thing that we must be able to avoid because you need the parent ministry to represent you at the FEC. That related with us here. We need to work together with the kind of security challenges we are experiencing in this country as you mentioned. I will appreciate the idea and concept of community policing. There are so many things in terms of policy you can drive from here.

“Ours stop at making policies because the implementation is absolutely yours. We will not interfere in that area at all. We have capable and experienced hands in the ministry that can make lots of inputs, particularly in this democratic environment that you need this process. I want to reassure that this ministry will give you all the support you need to succeed.”

Adamu said the police force was ready to retrace its steps and participate in the ministry’s activities involving security.

Last week, during his handover ceremony, Adamu noted that the force had suffered due to the absence of transparent, accountable and knowledgeable leadership.