Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Garba Baba Umar, has been elected Vice President (Africa) and Executive Committee Member of the International Criminal Police Organisation (ICPO) – INTERPOL.

Police Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said  Umar, who heads INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Nigeria, was elected in the early hours of today in Turkey.

He was elected at 89th INTERPOL General Assembly currently held at the Halic Congress Hall, Istanbul.

The 2021 General Assembly, which has in attendance 470 Police Chiefs, Ministers and Senior Law Enforcement Officials from the 195 INTERPOL member countries, seeks to identify areas where the organisation can reinforce the global security architecture and enhance collaboration against national and transnational crimes.

AIG Garba, one of Nigeria’s finest criminal investigators and professional strategic police manager, with over thirty (30) years policing experience both at national and international levels, polled the highest number of votes in the elections.

With this appointment, which will span three years, AIG Garba is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in coordinating INTERPOL operations targeted at ensuring a safer world for people and communities across the African continent.

This is in addition to drawing international policing support and cooperation towards advancing public safety and security, protecting the cyber space and generally addressing challenges faced by law enforcement officers and policing managers in the continent.

This is in addition to drawing international policing support and cooperation towards advancing public safety and security, protecting the cyber space and generally addressing challenges faced by law enforcement officers and policing managers in the continent.

Nigeria’s delegation to the 89th INTERPOL General Assembly was led by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (represented by the Naval Provost Marshal) also attended.