President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-general of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris as the acting inspector-general of police.
This was contained in a statement issued by the special adviser, media, to the president, Femi Adesina.
Idris, who hails from Kutigi, Lavun in Niger State, was born on January 15, 1959, and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics. He also holds a degree in Law from the University of Maiduguri.
Idris has served in various commands and formations of the Nigeria Police, working in the Police Mobile Force for 17 years as unit commander, squadron commander and commandant. He served as commissioner of police in Nasarawa and Kano states and was also the commissioner of police in charge of Police Mobile Force at the Force Headquarters.
He was also at the United Nations Mission in Liberia and East Timor and was awarded “Medal of Merit” by the President of the Republic of East Timor in recognition of his service.
The newly appointed acting IGP, who was in charge of Operations at Force Headquarters before his new appointment, will act in that capacity pending his confirmation.
Speaking to State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari yesterday, the outgoing IGP, Solomon Arase, formally introduced his successor and thanked Nigerians for the cooperation he received during his tenure as police boss.
He said, “I want to formally introduce my successor, AIG Idris Kpotun. He is going to be in acting capacity until the Police Council confirms.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank Nigerians for the cooperation given me while I served as inspector general of police. I also appeal to you to give the same support that you gave to me to my successor. He is a younger man so I am sure he will be abreast of the contemporary policing issues.”
On his part, Idris pledged that under his leadership, the police would be governed by global best practices.
“Honestly under my leadership, the Nigeria police is going to be governed by internationally recognised core values of policing everywhere in the world.
“That is, the issue of integrity and accountability, issue of respect for diversity, issue of compassion, issues of ensuring that our streets, our neighbourhoods, our communities remain safe.
“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that we provide the best service to this country,” he assured.
The man Ibrahim Kpotun Idris
Idris, a scientist, educationist and administrator, comes to the job with loads of experience, some of which he brought to bear as the former Commissioner of Police in Kano State where he served between July 7, 2011 and February 16, 2013. He also served as commissioner in Sokoto and Nasarawa states.
An indigene of Kutigi local government area of Niger State, he holds two degrees in Agricultural Economics, and Law.
He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet ASP in 1984 and was transferred to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) in April 1987, where he served for 17 years between April 1987 and January 2003. While at the PMF, Idris served as the commander in all positions he held. These include platoon commander and second-in-command in Mopol 7 Squadron, Sokoto, between 1987 and 1989; Squadron Commander, Mopol 11 Squadron, Calabar between 1990 and 1996; squadron commandant, Mopol 23 Squadron, Lagos, between 1996 and February 1998, and commandant, Police Mobile Force Training School, Gwoza, Borno State, between February 1998 and January, 2004 respectively.
After serving various squadron commandants at the PMF, Idris was seconded to the United Nations in 2004 by the Nigerian government where he served as United Nations Mission Police Operation coordinator, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) between February 2004 and October 2008, and Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) from October 2008 to March 2011.
He returned to Nigeria and was promoted as director, International Peace Keeping Office (DIPKO), at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, a position he held from April 11, 2011 to July 6, 2011.
Idris has also attended many professional courses in Nigeria, including Advanced Detective Course (ADC), 1987; Police Intermediate Course in 1997, and Senior Command Course in 2003, all at the Police Staff College, Jos.
He also attended Joint Police and Military courses, among them, a Disaster Management Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 2003.
He also attended the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course at the Centre for Management Studies, Lagos; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, where he was awarded Member of the National Institute (MNI) in 2013; a seminar on reorganisation and reforms of Formed Police Units (FPU) under the United Nations at the Centre for Excellence for Stability Police Forces (COESPU) in Vicenza, Italy in 2004; and the UN Senior Leadership Induction Course and UN Leadership Course at the UN Headquarters, New York, in February and September 2009 respectively.
For his outstanding performance as Operations coordinator in UNMIL and Police Commissioner in charge of Operations in UNMIT respectively, Idris received many commendations and awards in the course of his career, including the Nigeria Inspector General of Police Commendation Award for his leadership performance as commandant PMF Training College, Gwoza, in 2004 and the Special Representative of the Secretary General Commendation Award for planning, execution and coordination of security for the Liberian National Elections in 2005.
He also bagged two outstanding leadership awards for two United Nations Missions, namely United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT) in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
In March 2011, the President of Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr Jose Ramos Horta (Nobel Laureate), awarded Idris the country’s highest national medal, “the Medal of Merit” for his contribution to the security and stability of Timor Leste.
Before his appointment as acting IGP, which follows the retirement of Arase, who clocked the compulsory retirement age of 60, Idris was the AIG in charge of Operations at the force headquarters, Abuja. While in Kano as police commissioner, he revived the community policing scheme which attracted many people to actively participate in the fight against crime within and outside Kano metropolis. (Leadership)
