President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday sacked the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, 13 months after he was confirmed as the 14th indigenous police boss.
He was said to have been relieved of his duty over alleged lack of commitment, inefficiency, corruption in the force and the rising insecurity in the nation.
The former IG had come under scathing criticism from the media for his ineffectual policing strategies and his retention of check-points on the roads as a means of tackling crime.
AIG Hafiz Ringim, who was in charge of Umuahia Zone 9, has been appointed as the acting IG pending his confirmation by the National Assembly. He is the second person to be promoted as IG from the rank of AIG. Former AIG, Tafa Balogun, enjoyed similar treatment. He becomes the 15th indigenous IGP.
Ringim, who holds an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration, was born in Jigawa State on April 4, 1953 and enlisted in the Nigeria Police on March 1, 1977. He was promoted to the rank of AIG November 30, 2006 and would retire from the Force on March 1, 2012.
His appointment may mark the end of the careers of the members of the Police Management Team which included six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
They are DIG Uba Ringim in charge of ‘A’ Department, Finance and Administration, DIG Israel Ajao (‘B’ Department) Operations, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (‘C’ Department) Logistics and Supply; DIG John Ahmadu (‘D’ Department), Force Criminal Investigation; and Uzoma Declan (‘E’ Department), Force Training. Others are, DIG Olusegun Efuntayo (‘F’ Department), Research and Planning; and Sulaiman Fakai, Force Secretary.
Checks by correspondents at the force headquarters on Wednesday indicated that Onovo may have had foreknowledge of his sack, as he did not come to work in uniform.
Many police officers at the Force headquarters went about their assignments without missing a beat when news filtered in that Onovo had been removed from office. Many welcomed Ringim’s appointment and described him as a gallant officer and gentleman.
Onovo was accused of under-performance and not building on the achievements of his predeccessors, who implemented definite plans for tackling crime in the country.
His last problem was with an Abuja high court which ordered his arrest for not obeying an order directing him to release two dismissed policemen.
The police under Onovo had come under scathing criticism for not rising up to the challenge of crime, especially kidnapping, armed robbery, and extra-judicial killings by police personnel and rampant human rights abuse.
Various civil organisations, including Human Rights Watch, had lampooned the police for alleged excesses and for using road-blocks as an avenue for extorting motorists and commercial motorcyclists.
By Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
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