Finally, the ace Police officer and head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Mr. Abba Kyari, has been elevated by the Police Service Commission (PSC), to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
The PSC said on that 45 officers who participated in the successful arrest of notorious kidnap kingpin, Evans, have been granted special promotion.
Kyari was elevated from Assistant Commissioner of Police to a Deputy Commissioner of Police, making him the youngest DCP in the force.
A statement by Ikechukwu Ani, a spokesperson for the PSC, said the promotions were ratified today at a plenary presided over by Mike Okiro, chairman of the commission:”Thirteen of the officers were promoted in an acting capacity because they weren’t eligible for substantive promotion”
The promotions came a year after Evans was arrested in Lagos alongside 20 suspected members of his gang. The police have been widely hailed for the operation, which has been described as one of their highest points in recent years.
Properties worth millions of naira were said to have been recovered from the suspects. They were also held responsible for dozens of kidnap incidents across the country.
The suspects are currently being prosecuted at different courts in Lagos.
“The PSC has approved the special promotion of forty-five police officers and acting appointments for another 13 officers who played major roles in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike, aka Evans, a notorious kidnapper and 21 Members of his gang.
“The Commission took the decision today, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at its 27th Plenary Meeting which began in Abuja on Tuesday, April 17th, 2018 and presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Sir Dr. Mike Mbama Okiro, a retired Inspector General of Police.
“The promotion and acting appointments were based on the superlative performance of the officers in the arrest of the deadly gang who terrorized Nigerians. The officers are of the Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Technical Intelligence Unit under the direct supervision and coordination of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters Abuja.
“The promotion and acting appointments were also necessitated by the need to match rank with schedules of duty either being performed or to be performed by the officers and for their acts of gallantry and courage exhibited in the course of duty”.
Head press and public relations officer for PSC, Mr.Ikechukwu Ani, said:”Dr. Okiro said the new ranks would greatly motivate the Officers for improved performance.The Forty-five officers promoted included DCP Habu A. Sani, the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, who, however, has been directed to appear before the Commission tomorrow, Friday, for an interactive session in line with the Commission’s policy for officers transiting to the rank of Commissioner.
“Others are two Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners, one Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent, sixteen Assistant Superintendents of Police to Deputy Superintendent and twenty-four Inspectors to Assistant Superintendents. One Assistant Superintendent was appointed acting Deputy Superintendent while twelve Inspectors were also appointed acting Assistant Superintendents”
Some of the promoted officers who spoke with Cornerstone News said the promotions were well deserved.
A police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said:” We deserved it.We earned it and we did not lobby for it.I am so happy with the promotion of our Officer in Charge, Abba Kyari.He works round the clock fighting armed robbers, Kidnappers, and other criminal elements.He is a workaholic. If he was denied the promotion, we would have protested. I thank the IGP and Dr. Okiro for recognizing us and promoting us.We will do more “
