Date Published: 07/11/11

Ethnic Cleansing in Police: Ringim's Rebuttal Raises More Questions
…Denies Signal Was For Promotional Reasons

IG Ringim

The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim has denied earlier exclusive report by pointblanknews.com about his plans to discriminately promote Northern Police officers.

But the rebuttal has risen further questions concerning the sincerity and competence of the Police chief, and if he and his team could be trusted by the President and the Nigeria people in the wake of the Boko Haram onslaught. It also raises the issue of sincerity of purpose in the area of leveling the playing field for officers from all ethnic backgrounds.

A radio message from the police high command had in June directed all divisions to send names of all inspectors and below, who possess law degrees, first degrees and equivalent, for promotional courses at the Administrative and Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON). Such administrative courses are often prerequisites for promotion to higher cadres.

It could have been a regular message but for the insistence by Ringim that every officer on the list must come from the northern part of Nigeria

In a rather curious denial, Ringim said the signal was not for promotional reasons but "a process of continuos exercise for training of graduate policemen in the force". However, the title of the message, reproduced below, was “Promotion General. Promotion General"

According to a statement signed by Force headquarters Spokesman, DSP Olusola Amore, the memo sent to all its formation in the North was not for promotional purpose, describing our report as a distortion of fact.

But documents exclusively obtained by Pointblanknews.com clearly indicated on its heading that the memo was sent out with the intention to promote graduates of the Northern extractions only.

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 ?."

The Inspector General of Police in his statement said “for the records, the Police Service Commission is the only authorized body charged with the responsibility of promoting Police officers who are due, eligible and qualified for promotion.

According to Ringim who has come under intense pressure over the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, “the publication is categorically false in its entity. It is a complete of distortion the existing facts, particularly as it relates to recruitment, appointment and promotion of Police officers and men in the Police Force.”

He said the memo originated from the police training department on the request of the instance of the Police Service Commission insisting that the “signal is not an indication for promotion, but a process of continuous exercise for training of graduate Policemen in the Force in line with the constitutional provision with a view of promoting them to meet their newly acquired qualifications. This programme started since 2005 for junior officers who are graduates.”

Editor’s Note:

It is sad that those who advice the police boss and even the boss himself could be so deceitful. Otherwise, how does one explain a situation where documents which clearly indicate an intention to promote graduate officers from some selected states in Nigeria are now being denied as false? We wholeheartedly stand by our story!