IGP orders merger of ALL police cybercrime units, appoints director

Usman Baba, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered the merger of the cybercrime units in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) into one centre. 

According to a statement issued on Friday by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer (PRO), the move is to ensure effectiveness against cybercrime-related offences. 

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has ordered the immediate reorganisation of the cybercrime units in the Nigeria Police Force to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and a formidable front against cybercrime-related offences provided for in the Cybercrime Prevention Act, 2015,” the statement reads.

“The reorganisation means that all the various units under investigative departments, hitherto investigating cybercrimes, will be merged under the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber-crime Centre domiciled in the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”

Adejobi said the IGP also appointed Henry Ifeanyi, a deputy commissioner of police, as the director of the new cybercrime centre.

“DCP Uche holds a Master’s Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Cybersecurity at the University of Glasgow,” the statement reads.

“He is a certified Ethical Hacker and a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator, having attended several local and international courses on cyber security.

“He is equally a member of INTERPOL Cybercrime Advisory Body, Association of Cybercrime Specialists, amongst other professional associations.”

Adejobi also said Daniel Amah, the divisional police officer of Bompai in Kano, was promoted for rejecting a $200,000 bribe.

The IGP decorated Amah with the new rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) on Friday.

“Recall that the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday rewarded the senior officer with a special promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and a cash sum of N1 million for rejecting the bribe to cover up a crime reported at his Division,” Adejobi added.