The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. (Sir) Mike Okiro (rtd.), has cleared the air on the recent retirement of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and 21 Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) in the wake of the appointment of AIG Ibrahim Idris as the 19th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The PSC Chairman, himself a former IGP, declared that the action of the Federal Government regarding the retirements did not contravene either the Police Act or the constitution of the country.

Okiro made the clarifications yesterday at Police Force Headquarters Abuja, during the decoration of the newly promoted Deputy Inspectors General of Police.

The former IGP Okiro stressed: “If you all recall, when Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo was appointed IGP, he was a DIG and so there were no retirements. When Aliyu Attah was appointed, he was an AIG, so all the DIG’s above him were retired. Tafa Balogun came in as AIG; all the senior officers were retired. Hafiz Ringim came in as AIG, all the DIG’s were retired. MD Abubakar came in as AIG, all the DIGs were retired.

“Ehindero, I and Ogbonna Onovo were DIG’s so there was no retirements. IGP Solomon Arase was a DIG before taking over so there was no retirements. Now that Ibrahim Idris has taken over, he should be allowed to work. The complaints and comments are all distraction. We have serious security challenges on our hands like that of the North East, the Niger Delta, Kidnapping etc. these distractions should stop to allow the Acting IGP concentrate of fighting these challenges.”

The Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdurahman Dambazau (rtd), at the decoration ceremony advised the officers to focus on the key areas of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration which are ensuring the security for the nation and its citizenry, fighting corruption in all ramifications and revitalising the economy. Dambazau further urged the DIGs to put in their best to help the IGP succeed. He noted that no matter how brilliant or smart a leader is, he will still depend on certain input and support from his subordinates since he cannot be everywhere nor remember everything.

•Photo shows PSC Chairman Mike Okiro.