Nigeria: IGP Cuts Short Visit to U.S.

30 June 2011

Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim has cut short his visit to the U.S. to honour a Senate invitation to testify on the current security situation in the country, officials said.

The Senate had on Tuesday, after a debate on the spate of security breaches in some parts of the country, summoned security chiefs to brief it on the situation.

Ringim, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Thursday on “The Challenge of Police reform in Africa”, at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

A spokesperson of the CSIS said in New York by telephone that the Nigeria police chief would no longer attend the event.

“He called this morning (Wednesday) to inform us that he will be leaving Washington tonight to honour an invitation from the Nigeria Senate on the security situation in the country,” the official said.

“Due to a last minute schedule change, Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim will not be able to attend and thus will not deliver the keynote address as planned,” CSIS said in an email.

“The panel discussion will continue as scheduled, and will feature: Charles Snyder Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs U.S. Department of State Sarah Margon”.

Ringim, who left Nigeria on the heels of June 16 attack on police headquarters in the Abuja, was said to have met with FBI officials during his visit to the U.S.

He was equally said to have held talks with State Department officials on how the U.S. can assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

He was due to leave the U.S. on Thursday after the conference at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Nigeria embassy officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the IGP departed for Abuja yesterday(Wednesday) night. (NAN)

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