Interview with the Acting IGP
From Elohor Igbru Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced Deputy Inspector General ( DIG), Usman Alkali Baba as acting Inspector General of Police, with immediate effect, the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi has said.
The Minister disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Actings Inspector General of Police (IGP) is known as a police officer with a human face, who displayed very rare human touch in policing affairs.
Baba, a former Commissioner of Police, Delta state is known to always carry his men along in every operation and is a down to earth officer. He is also known to favour collaboration with other agencies of government i order to ensure synergy and effective policing.
Baba will take over from Muhammed Adamu whose tenure was extended by President Buhari on February 4th for three months.
Security experts say maybe this time President Buhari has made a right choice in appointment.
Usman Alkali Baba in his own words
Alkali Baba Usman was born sometime in 1963. I am an alumnus of Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID. I am married with children. I joined the Nigerian Police Force sometime in March 1988. I rose from the rank of ASP, and thence to the rank of Commissioner of Police, last January 27th.
I attended all the courses that are mandatory to be attended at various ranks and I also attended extra courses like investigation, insurgency and counter- terrorism, including traffic management.
I am a member of the International Association of Police, I am a fellow of the International War College. This is my first command.
Before now, where did you serve ?
I have served in various commands. I was in Kaduna as the Deputy Commissioner, Administration, I was in FCT as the Deputy Commissioner, Investigation, and I was also in the staff college as a directing staff.
Again, I was in Ilorin as an Area Commander, I was the second-in-command in Ebonyi, I was Assistant Commissioner, CID in Kaduna, and before then I was DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in various places like Yola, Gombe, Kaduna, and Jos. I have attended peace keeping operations outside the country and so forth.
Culled from a 2014 Vanguard interview