IGP: I want to leave a legacy of professionalised police

Usman Alkali Baba, inspector-general of police (IGP), says he wants to ensure a “professionalised” force at the end of his tenure in office.

Baba said this on Friday, while speaking to stakeholders during a one-day duty tour of the Jigawa police command.

The IGP, who was appointed in April, also promised to reward hard work.

“I want to leave a legacy of professionalised police, a dedicated police force with sincerity of purpose, zeal and courage,” he said.

“I will also reward hardworking officers and punish bad eggs in service.

“Reward is to motivate, while punishment is to serve as deterrent to others.”

The police boss also warned officers recording police activities in video or audio and sending same out through social media platforms to desist from such acts.

According to him, any police officer caught doing that will be punished accordingly.

In his remarks, Aliyu Sale, police commissioner in Jigawa, told the IGP that the state has experienced some level of peace.

“Jigawa is relatively peaceful. And since my assumption of duty on August 8, I’ve put in place some proactive crime-fighting strategies,” he said

“By the grace of God, Jigawa state will continue to be one of the safest places where inhabitants can sleep with their two eyes closed.”

He, however, said even though Jigawa is relatively peaceful, there have been pockets of robberies, abductions, and killings in parts of the state, adding that the command is putting security strategies in place to address the situation.

On the challenges faced by the command, Sale listed inadequate manpower, and accommodation, lack of operational vehicles and obsolete communication equipment.

He said despite the challenges, the command would not relent in fighting crimes.

Responding, the IGP said every sector has its challenges and these should not stop the police from doing its job.

“It should rather encourage you to do more by devising different means to overcome such challenges. But we will do our best to address them,” Baba said.