Date Published: 07/04/11

IGP Ringim Plots" Ethnic Cleansing" In The Police
...Agenda To Stall Promotions Of Some Inspectors and Rank and File
…Wants Only Those of Northern Origin Sent to ASCON

IGP Ringim

Parry Osayande

The Inspector General of Police,(IGP), Hafiz Ringim is set to sideline, Inspectors and rank and file of southern stock with Bachelors and Law Degrees, who are qualified to attend administrative and management courses, in favor of those from the north. These courses are are prerequisites for promotions to a higher cadre like Assistant Superintendents of Police.

The move, which some police sources tagged " ethnic cleansing", will ensure only those of northern origin are positioned to be Superintendents, Commissioners, Assistant Inspectors General (AIG's) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIG's)in the nearest future.

The strategy our source contend, may be to replicate what obtains in the Armed Forces where a large slice of officers are from the core north.

Today, of all the nine most senior officers in the police, only Haruna Ahmadu and Uba Ringim are from the north. This development our source hinted, does not go down well with Ringim who was appointed IGP,over those better qualified and experienced. The DIG's are Udo Ekpoudom, Israel Ajao, Uzoma Declan, Olusegun Efuntayo. The AIG 's are Ivy Okoronkwo, Azubike Udah, and A. Idowu.

In the wake of the Boko Haram mayhem , Ringim directed that officers and men of southern stock be transferred to the hot spots in the north. This move caused a stir as those affected wondered why southerners should be moved to the line of fire while their colleagues from the north are moved away from possible death.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that on June 6, 2011, Ringim directed all commissioners , Heads of Department at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Lagos annex and Kaduna annex, to forward names of only those from the north for management and administrative training at the Administrative and Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).

Under normal circumstances, the training should cover Inspectors and rank and file, from all parts of Nigeria, who possess Bsc, LLb, BA, B.ED, HND or equivalent. But Ringim excluded all indigenes of southern states.

The radio message, titled " Promotion General", insisted that all recipients should treat the message as very urgent and ensure the list got to his desk latest by June 24, 2011.

Ringim only wants indigenes of these states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara

The message in possession of Pointblanknews.com was from Nigpol 'D' Abuja, to Compol All Sections/HOD's Force CID Abuja/ Annex Lagos/ Annex Kaduna, with reference number,SH:4640/X/FHQ/ABJ/Vol 1

The message reads"...Promotion General X Promotion General X ASCON ExaminationX Grateful Forward Mine X Particulars of Inspectors and Members of the Rank and File Serving Yours X Who Have Obtained Bsc/ LLb/BA/BEd/B.Engr/HND or Equivalent Educational Qualification X And Are Indigenes of the Following States X Adamawa X Bauchi X Borno X FCt Abuja X Gombe X Jigawa X Kaduna X Kano X Katsina X Kebbi X Nasarawa X Niger X Plateau X Sokoto X Taraba X Yobe X Zamfara X Under the Following Headings X S/No X AP/F/No X Rank/ Name X State of OriginX Date of Enlistment X Educational Qualification X Institution Attended X Year of Graduation .."

The message continues" ...Your Requested To Forward Mine X Photo Copies of Such Certificates for Verification X Returns Your Must Reach Mine On or Before 24/06/2011 X Repeat 24/06/2011 Unfailingly X Treat As Very Important X End X ?."

Said our source " this is very worrisome. First he wanted officers of southern origin transferred to hot spots in the north . The message was specific on who and who should be on the list. This is training in administrative and management skills at ASCON. What he is trying to do is stall the promotion of all inspectors and rank and file from the south, give room for those from the north to advance. Don't forget this should be for all those with degrees and HNd's...but we all know know most of those with Law degrees and first degrees , who are inspectors and juniors are from the south"

He continued " the strategy is to put forward those from the north and so in the nearest future most senior officers would be from there. Right now of the nine top officers DIG and AIG's only two are from the north, so he wants to stop that."

Efforts to get the reaction of the chairman , Police Service Commission , Parry Osayande proved abortive as he did not pick calls to his phone and did not respond to a text message sent.

However, a source in the Force Public Relations Office, who refused to be named to avoid reprisals, confirmed the radio message .