The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of Abba Kyari, Yusuf Kolo and 56 others for the roles they played in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike, aka Evans and his gang.
Their promotion is part of the special promotion exercise conducted by the Commission.
The Commission had last year suspended special promotion exercise after the outcry by Senator Isah Misau and others.
A statement in Abuja Thursday by the Spokesman of the Commission, Ikechukwu Ani stated the promotion and acting appointments were based on the superlative performance of the officers in the arrest of the deadly gang who terrorized Nigerians.
Ani explained that the Commission took the decision on Thursday at its 27th Plenary meeting which was presided over by the Chairman of the Commission, Mike Okiro.
A source at the Commission confirmed to The Nation that Abba Kyari and Yusuf Kolo who were part of officers who have led operations that led to several arrest of kidnapper and other criminals were amongst those promoted.
The two officers have been promoted from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioners of Police.
The statement reads: “The Police Service Commission has approved special promotion of 45 police officers and acting appointments for another 13 officers who played major roles in the arrest of Chukwudumuje Onuoamadike, aka Evans, a notorious kidnapper and 21 members of his gang.
“The officers are of the Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Technical Intelligence Unit under the direct supervision and coordination of the IGP Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters Abuja.
“The promotion and acting appointments were also necessitated by the need to match rank with schedules of duty either being performed or to be performed by the officers and for their acts of gallantry and courage exhibited in the course of duty.”
Dr. Okiro said the new ranks would greatly motivate the Officers for improved performance.
The statement continues : “45 officers promoted included DCP Habu A. Sani, the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, who however, has been directed to appear before the Commission tomorrow, Friday, April 20th 2018 for an interactive session in line with the Commission’s policy for officers transiting to the rank of Commissioner.
“Others are two Assistant Commissioners of Police to Deputy Commissioners, one Chief Superintendent of Police to Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent, sixteen Assistant Superintendents of Police to Deputy Superintendent and twenty four Inspectors to Assistant Superintendents. One Assistant Superintendent was appointed acting Deputy Superintendent while twelve Inspectors were also appointed acting Assistant Superintendents.”
The Commission’s Spokesman said the acting appointments were approved for officers who were not due for promotion.
On why the ban on the special promotion was lifted, Ani said: “The special promotion was suspended because we wanted to be properly guided.
“We gave a guideline for special promotion to be effected to the IG and the ones we are treating now are the ones that followed the guidelines.
“We gave the IG the guidelines for him to give us proof of what those people have done to deserve the promotion,” he said.
