IGP 'de-mobs' 56 squadron commanders over corruption allegations

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase has de-mobbed no fewer than 56 squadron commanders of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) over corruption allegations.

A police source said that the IGP’s move was not only connected with corruption allegations, but that some of these officers are incompetence and unprofessional.

The affected men would go back to being regular officer officers.

The move also followed Arase’s vow to sanitise the Nigeria Police Force, beginning with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the federation and PMF.

A top police officer, attached to the Force Headquarters who pleaded anonymity, described the removal of the 56 Squadron Commanders as a right move, adding: "most of these officers have abandoned their responsibilities and became business Moguls! In the past, some corrupt IGPs used to take between N5m from officers who wanted to be Squadron Commanders.”
The police source said that the action of Arase could be compared with what the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) did to
Oshodi, Lagos.
His words: "Don't forget that Oshodi used to be a haven for miscreants, criminals, prostitutes and disgruntled elements for over 36 years! No successive governments of the state ever took a decisive action on Oshodi until Fashola. This is exactly what happened to our PMF unit of the force. Some of these officers have turned themselves into importers and exporters. What the IGP did is a very good step in the right direction.”

A Squadron Commander, who wished not to be named, said: “I applaud the move of the IGP. He should however rejig and reposition the operational wing of the police to confront contemporary national security challenges.”