The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over his “lack of capacity” to address security challenges in the country, particularly the killings by herdsmen in Benue State and the insecurity in Kano State.
“We call on Mr. President to replace the IGP with a more professional officer,” the resolution of the House read.
The resolution was passed after lawmakers debated two motions: one on the killings by herdsmen in Benue State, and the second on the “need to curb thuggery development in political activities in Kano and Nigeria in general.”
The motion on the killings by herdsmen was moved by a member from Benue State, Mr. Mark Terseer-Gbillah, while the second motion was moved by a Kano State lawmaker, Mr. Abubakar Danburam-Nuhu.
The two motions were later amended to a motion for the sacking of the IG.
Ruling on the motion to sack the IGP, the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said, “If we pass this amendment, it means that the entire House has passed a vote of no confidence in the IGP.
“I will go ahead and put the question since that is the decision of the House.”
The House also directed Idris to apologise to the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, over a statement made by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, calling the governor a “drowning man.”
Moshood had featured on a Channels Television programme, Morning Rise, on Tuesday, February 6, where the topic of discussion was the killings by herdsmen in Benue State.
The PPRO was on the programme with the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Terver Akase.
Moshood had reaffirmed the stance of the IGP that the killings in Benue resulted from the enactment of the open grazing (prohibition) law by the state House of Assembly.
In the heat of the discussion, Moshood called Ortom a drowning man, who must also resign his position as a governor.
On Wednesday, the lawmakers did not only condemn Moshood for the statement, they described him as an officer who was not fit to remain in the police force.
