Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris, has rewarded five athletes that won gold medals at the just concluded World Police and Fire Games in Los Angeles, USA, with automatic promotion.
Idris, who made the announcement at a reception for the Athletes on Wednesday in Abuja, said Silver and Bronze medalists would be rewarded with IG’s commendation and appreciation, respectively.
He said the Force would give the athletes all the necessary support to further enhance their performance.
“We will try all we can to support you, it is a good achievement for the Force,” he said.
He commended the athletes for making the Force and Nigeria proud, adding that it was the first time this feat was achieved in the police.
Idris said that before now, he had recommended some of the athletes for special promotion that had been suspended by the Police Service Commission until further notice.
Chairman, Force Sports Planning Committee, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Sani Mohammed, commended the IG for providing all the logistics support for the athletes.
He described the support as “the first of its kind by any indigenous IG in the history of the Nigerian Police.”
Mohammed appealed to the IG not to rest on his efforts at providing needed logistics that would make the athletes to maintain their current position and improve on it.
He said the Force was full of potential athletes that would make the police and Nigeria proud anywhere in the world.
The athletes, who participated in boxing, judo, wrestling, athletics, swimming, won a total of five gold, three silver and five bronze medals.
The Games that were held between August 7 and 16 attracted approximately 10, 000 athletes from 73 countries, slightly fewer than the summer Olympic Games.
