Ibrahim Coomassie
| Ibrahim Coomassie | |
|---|---|
| Inspector General of the Nigerian Police | |
|
In office 1993 – 29 May 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Aliyu Attah |
| Succeeded by | Musiliu Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 March 1942 Katsina |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | Police officer |
Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, was an Inspector General of Police of Nigeria from 1993 to 1999, serving under the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Ibrahim Coomassie was the eldest son of Malam Ahmadu Coomassie, an educationist and businessman who became a permanent secretary of the ministry of education in the Northern region. Ibrahim Coomassie was born in Katsina State on 18 March 1942. He was educated at the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria, Barewa College, Zaria, the Detective Training College, Wakefield, UK and Washington DC in the United States.
In 1993, Ibrahim Coomassie was appointed Inspector General of the Nigerian police, succeeding Aliyu Atta. In June 1994, president-elect M.K.O. Abiola was arrested without warrant and detained by the police. He was mistreated in prison, where he was held for four years before dying in June 1998. Although head of police, Coomassie evaded responsibility for the detention.
In 1996, Coomassie launched an investigation into police actions during the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida (1985–1993). In July 1997, Coomassie said he wanted to question the American Ambassador and members of the US Embassy staff about a series of bombings of military targets. The government had accused the National Democratic Coalition of responsibility, and said publicly that they suspected American diplomats knew about the bombings in advance.
In March 1998, Ibrahim Coomassie said that the press was misinterpreting a speech that head of state General Sani Abacha had made in November 1997. He said General Abachi had promised to grant amnesty to some prisoners, but not to release political detainees. At a police graduation ceremony in July 1998, Coomassie warned the new officers against corrupt practices, and said he had ordered the removal of all police roadblocks. However, the police roadblocks continued. In 1998, Coomassie observed that any time a citizen became a public figure, his first act was to ask for an orderly and policement to guard his house, as a status symbol.
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