Enugu Police Commissioner Removed Amid Allegations of Political Interference

The removal of Commissioner of Police Bitrus Giwa as head of the Enugu State Police Command has sparked controversy, with allegations that he resisted involvement in Governor Peter Mbah's political activities. Giwa has been replaced by CP Fidelis Ogarabe, one of four new commissioners announced by the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday. The PSC said the deployments followed interviews to assess the officers' fitness and suitability for their positions.

Allegations circulating on social media claim that the Enugu State Government sought to influence the police command for political purposes, with Giwa refusing to cooperate. A popular X Spaces host, Emir Sirdam, shared private messages from individuals alleging that Giwa was being removed for rejecting the governor's request for 500 political thugs. The messages claim that Governor Mbah approached Giwa with the request, which he allegedly rejected, prompting the governor to report him to the Inspector-General of Police.

The allegations have not been substantiated, and there has been no independent confirmation that Giwa's removal was connected to any disagreement with the governor. Neither the Enugu State Government nor the police authorities have responded to the claims. The development has generated questions about the circumstances surrounding the change of leadership at the Enugu State Police Command, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PSC announced the new appointments, including Ogarabe's deployment to Enugu State, alongside three other commissioners posted to Plateau, Nasarawa, and Ondo states. Ogarabe previously served as Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL Annex, Lagos. The other officers deployed are CP Sunday J. A. Okoebor, CP Sheikh Mohammed Danko, and CP Johnson Ayodeji Babalola.

The deployments were approved on Thursday at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, Police Service Commission Headquarters, Abuja. The PSC said the appointments were made in line with its constitutional mandate, citing Section 215(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution. The chairman of the commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, said the deployments were in accordance with the constitution.

Argungu, represented by a board member, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (rtd.), urged the newly deployed commissioners to discharge their responsibilities impartially and uphold the expectations of their respective offices. Although the PSC described the appointments as an exercise of its constitutional powers, the allegations surrounding Giwa's exit have added a political dimension to the leadership change in Enugu.

Attention is now turning to the circumstances of Giwa's removal and the new commissioner's approach to policing in the state. The development has raised concerns about the neutrality of security agencies ahead of the 2027 elections. The PSC's decision to deploy new commissioners has been seen as a move to ensure the police remain impartial in the face of growing political activities.

Key points

• The removal of Commissioner of Police Bitrus Giwa has sparked controversy amid allegations of political interference.
• The Police Service Commission has announced the deployment of new commissioners to Enugu, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Ondo states.
• The development has raised concerns about the neutrality of security agencies ahead of the 2027 elections.