‘Logistics And Training, Bane Of The Nigerian Police Force’

Yewa Secondary School Old Students’ Associaton (YESSOSA) recently honoured one of their own, Adeola Adegoke Adeniji, following his elevation to the post of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police. In this interview, Adeniji spoke to DEBO OLADIMEJI on his sojourn in the Nigeria police. 

Background MY name is Adeola Adegoke Adeniji. I was born and bred in Lagos. My parents came from Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state.

I was born in 1956 and I schooled at African Church Primary School, Oyingbo, Ebute Metta, Lagos from 1963 to 1969.

On completion of my primary school education, I proceeded to Egbado High School, now Yewa Secondary School, Igbogila, Ogun State from 1969 to 1973. On completion of my secondary education, I was posted to Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-Ode, where I did my Higher School Certificate (HSC) course, from 1973 to 1975.

There, I made my ‘A’ level papers. On completion of my A’ level, I gained admission into the University of Ibadan(UI) in September 1975 and I finished in 1978.

I graduated B.Sc (Honours) in Sociology. On completion of my university degree in 1978, I did my Youth Service in Imo State. I later enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force in August 1980 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP (with one star).

I was trained at Police Staff College, Jos for one year. On completion of the course in 1981, I was posted to Kano. I served in Kano for six years.

From Kano Command, I moved to Kaduna Police Command. From there, I was posted to Nigeria Police Academy, Kano where I taught for three years. From there, I was posted to Kebbi State Police Command. I was later posted to Anambra State, as Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

From Anambra State, I came to Force Headquarters as AC Welfare. From there, I was moved to Sokoto State Police Command Zone 10 Headquarters, Sokoto where I was Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

Thereafter, I became DC Sokoto. From DC Sokoto, I was posted to Kwara State Command. From Kwara State Command, I was posted to Special Unit. I was then promoted Commissioner of Police (CP). I became CP Homicide Section, Abuja.

In 2010, I was sent to the National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies, Jos where I did a one-year course. That was where I bagged the Member National Institute (MNI). On completion of the course, I was posted as CP to Sokoto State.

From CP Sokoto State, I was posted to Ogun State where I did the 2011 Election. After one year in Ogun State, I was moved to CP Interpol at Alagbon, Lagos. Thereafter, I came to CP Border Patrol Force Headquarters. I was later promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in January 2014. I was in charge of Zone Four Headquarters, Makurdi. I was covering Plateau and Benue…

In January 2015, I was promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Information and Communication.

That is where I am serving up till now. Why did you join the police force? I joined the police force because I felt that it is through the police that I can serve my nation. I wanted to contribute my quota to the development of this nation.

Have you been able to do that? In several ways I have been able to do that. I was the pioneer person that handled the investigation of Boko Haram. I was the Officer-in- charge, OC Intelligence, for years. I performed credibly in elections.

I did election in Ondo. I was in charge of North Central geo-political zone which covered Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Niger, Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa during the 2015 election.

The election was hitch-free. I have taught in the Police Academy. You need to know the calibre of people that are sent to the Police Academy to go and teach. They are quality officers. What actually is the problem of Nigeria Police Force? Logistics and training.

On logistics, we need to go for courses, both local and overseas, but the state of our economy is making it difficult compared to what we have in other developing countries. What about corruption? Corruption is a general problem. It is not limited to the police. It is everywhere.

That of the police is just being blown out of proportion. What is the solution? To continue to educate the public. Both the giver and the taker are liable.

There is no receiver when there is no giver. If a policeman is making unreasonable demand, report. It is part of the cardinal programmes of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to reduce corruption to the barest minimum. I give him kudos for that. By God’s grace, he will achieve it. Corruption has to do with personal contentment.

If you have fear of God, there will not be corruption. What are your plans now? To leave a very formidable IT department; IT department where our system is computerized.

With the computer, the world is just a global village. We need computer data that will give the number of accident cases that happened last year. Just at the tip of your fingers, you get it instead of the manual way of doing it.

To continue to serve this country in various capacities. I am very available even after my retirement. I will not be tired to serve the Federal Government. Police should be given support, attention in the areas of welfare, logistic support, training etc.