IGP Shuts Down Police Monitoring Unit Offices In Lagos, Rivers

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, on Thursday, ordered the immediate shut down of the IGP Monitoring Unit offices in Lagos State and Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The IGP issued the order over issues relating to harassment and complaints against operatives of the unit.

The IGP gave the order during a meeting with police commissioners and zonal AIGs in Abuja.U

Baba noted that the IGP Monitoring Unit would be re-organized for better operation.

The order came barely 24 hours after Musiliu Smith, the Police Service Commission boss, advised the IGP on the need to checkmate police investigative units across the country to “stem the atrocities committed in the line of duty”.

At the meeting, the IGP ordered that the number of operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit should be limited to 50 operatives, while barring the units from undertaking criminal investigations and taking over cases from police commands in states.

Baba said the unit, with effect from Tuesday, will only operate within their original mandate, which is to investigate complaints of alleged professional infractions against serving officers.

We Must Address Secession Threats – IGP

The acting IGP said the directives were to further aid the police to return to the basics in policing.

“I must reemphasise that the major task ahead of us is to address secession threats, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and sundry violent crimes in the shortest possible time.

“I appreciate the sacrifices that most of you have been making and the successes you have recorded in the war against criminality and secessionist agenda.

“I also acknowledge the challenges associated with your duties but the reality is that more grounds need to be covered if we are to restore public confidence,” Baba said.