The Nigeria Police Force has stated that its Inspector General, IGP Mohammed Adamu, is in firm control of the administration of the Force, contrary to the comment by Major General Garba Wahab (rtd).

Major General Wahad, a retired Army General and Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Center ,during an interview on Channels TV Sunrise Daily program which was held on November 13, had labeled the IGP as being incompetent.

General Wahab said that IGP Adamu was just sitting down in his office with all the paraphernalia of office while things were getting out of hand emphasizing that he is not in control.

Wahad said:"Rather than improving the improvement (sic), the IGP is sitting down there with all the paraphernalia of office deprived of actually having control of police… he is not in control”.

But the Force headquarters, however, hit back at the retired General noting that General Wahab’s assertion was not only wrong, he also spoke on subject outside his area of core competence.

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The Police responded saying that during the #ENDSARS protest and provocative attacks on Police personnel and assets, the officers under IGP Adamu’s command exercised maximum restraint and stayed calm, professional and committed to maintaining law and order in the country.

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The Force in a statement said that the Retired Major General was wrong in his assertion, affirming that IGP Adamu is firmly in control of the administration and operation of the Nigeria Police Force. 

A statement by the Force Public Relations officer, DCP Frank MBA read in part:"The comments by Rtd Major General Garba Wahab shows that he spoke purely out of ignorance and from a jackboot mentality that lacks proper understanding of democratic policing culture, rooted in the Rule of Law.

"It reiterates that the retired Officer clearly spoke on a subject outside his areas of core competence.

"It is noteworthy that since his assumption of office as the 20th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni, a global policing icon, has in the past twenty-three months of his leadership of the Force, shown sterling qualities in what the operational/administrative command and control of the Force should be.

"This is exemplified in the various reform policies being implemented to reposition the Force for greater efficiency, uphold the rule of law in policing actions and drive a citizen-centred policing approach.

"It is to the credit of his robust leadership style that even in the face of the recent violence occasioned by the ENDSARS protest and provocative attacks on Police personnel and assets, the officers under his command exercised maximum restraint and stayed calm, professional and committed to maintaining law and order in the country."

The Force therefore urged Nigerians and "privileged opinion moulders not to allow sentiments becloud their sense of judgment but to use opportunities of national platforms to offer constructive criticisms and advocate opinions that will help in improving governance generally and policing in particular in the country."

It also charged Major General Garba Wahab (rtd) to fact-check his assumptions before going public.