The deployment of police officers from Delta state to Northern states like, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, Yobe, Kogi, as ordered by the Inspector General of Police may be causing ripples in the state already.
According to The Nation, 62 Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), including other unit heads, who are of southern origin have been transferred to Northern states, prompting suggestions that the development may cause ripples. Also, the officers have been replaced by their northern counterparts.
A copy of the transfer list that was dated April 30, 2020 and signed by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Alkali Baba Usman, a former Commissioner of Police in Delta State indicates that the officers deployed are within the ranks of the Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs). They have been ordered by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to resume duty or risk facing disciplinary actions on or before May 29.
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The circular reads, “The Inspector-General of Police has ordered the transfer of the following officers from Delta State Command to commands indicated against their names.
“The IGP has noticed flagrant disregard to lawful orders exhibited by officers on transfer to commands/formations. Officers who intentionally decide not to report on or before 29th May, 2020 will be queried”.
Sources claim that the transfer is as a result of the officers’ overstay in their respective divisions thereby making them unproductive.
Meanwhile, in a development, the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), issued 7 days ultimatum to the IGP to reverse the transfer or witness mass protest.
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The national vice president of the association, Comrade Prince Taiga, states that the transfers are questionable and unconstitutional.
He added: “We don’t understand what the IGP is trying to do, is he trying to bring in Boko – Haram or Herdsmen to the South-South?
“We have not witnessed anything like this for the past twenty (20) years. This is a one-sided transfer.
“The officers that were transferred were basically from the Southern, Eastern and Western parts of the country. The transfer did not cut across the 6 zones and it was made base on self-interest.
“We are not against redeployment, but anything worth doing should be well done. This redeployment is unacceptable. It is one sided. IGP should make the redeployment cut across the six geo-political zone.
“We are giving the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Adamu seven days to reverse the transfer or there will be mass protest,” Taiga said.
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When quizzed on the development, Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa ‘confirmed’ the development but refused to comment on the issue further
He said: “this is an internal administrative matter and it is not meant for the consumption of the public. It is an organisational matter, but people are trying to tribalize it.
“So, I’m not ready to comment on that. It is very unfortunate that matters like this will be tribalised.”.
