The acting Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu has appointed six new deputy Inspectors-General of Police, DIGs.
The new DIGs who were elevated from Assistant Inspectors-General are Usman Tilli Abubakar, from Kebbi State joined police in February 1986; Abdulmaji Ali, from Niger State joined police in February 1986; Taiwo Frederick Lakanu, from Lagos State joined police in February 1986 and Godwin Nwobodo, from Enugu State joined police in 1984.
The remaining two new DIGs, who were elevated from the rank of police commissioners, include Ogbizi Michael, former Abia State police commissioner, and Ibrahim Lamorde, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who hails from Adamawa State. Lakanu was the Force Secretary until his appointment.
It is gathered that the new DIGs would have their respective portfolios announced later by the Police Service Commission, PSC.
Their elevation came a day after the acting IGP retired seven DIGs who were his senior in order to pave way for the constitution of a new management team with whom he could work comfortably.
Recall that the retired DIGs include Maigari Dikko, the DIG in charge of finance and administration and Habila Joshak, the DIG in charge of operations.
Others are Emmanuel Inyang, information and communications technology; Agboola Oshodi-Glover, logistics and supply; Mohammed Katsina, research and planning; Sani Mohammed, training and development; and Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah, federal criminal investigation and intelligence.
The seven DIGs and eight assistant inspectors-general were identified as having joined the police before the acting IGP who was appointed on January 15 after the former IGP, Ibrahim Idris, was retired, having attained 60 years.
The seven police chiefs’ departure was in furtherance of the convention that recommends the retirement of senior police chiefs when an officer junior to them in service or lower in rank is appointed to lead the institution.
When Mr Idris was appointed IG in 2016, more than 20 DIGs and AIGs were compelled to retire from service to enable him constitute his management team.