Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), in-charge of Force Information And Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Foluso Ayodeji Adebanjo, with impeccable track records, recently retired after serving the Nigeria Police Force for 33 years. In this interview with TAIWO JIMOH, Adebanjo shares his success story and what should be done to improve policing in Nigeria.
Can you give an insight into your background?
I was born on 15th of March 1958, in Lagos State to the family of late Chief Emmanuel Olukoya Adebanjo and late Mrs Omobola Adebanjo. I attended Lagos City Council Primary School, Okesuna, Lagos. I also attended CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos and Government College Epe, Lagos State. I proceeded to Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma, USA, now University of Central Oklahoma, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Management and Administration.
I enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1985. I have served in various states and zonal commands and held strategic positions in almost all the departments in the Force. I also served in the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (INTERPOL), Presidential Task Force on Trade Malpractices, a forerunner to EFCC at Ikoyi, Lagos. I was Commissioner of Police Anti-Bomb Squad also known as Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), Force Headquarters, Abuja. I also served as
Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Commissioner of Police, Administration, Force Headquarter Abuja, and Commissioner of Police, River State Command. I have attended several local and international courses both in Nigeria and abroad. I’m a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and also member of several professional and international organisations.
Can you relive your time in the police?
It has been very interesting and challenging and I loved every minute of it. It was a job I loved with passion. I look at it as one of the best jobs around. I thank Almighty God who protected me throughout my career. I will miss the IGP and members of the management team, who were all wonderful and great colleagues. I will miss other senior officers; officers and men that worked with me in one way or the other. Most of them were wonderful and disciplined. I hope I won’t miss waking up very early and closing late and not having to switch off my phones even for a minute.
What were your low moments as a police officer?
My lowest point was the day, four of my men, were brutally murdered by kidnappers while attempting to foil a kidnap in Edo State when I was the commissioner of police. The low points are whenever my officers were killed by criminals.
What’s your assessment of the police?
My assessment is with mixed feelings. I see a lot of good and hardworking officers being maligned due to the excesses of very few officers who have no respect for the rule of law, human rights and often engage in corrupt practices and are indiscipline. Such should not be allowed to continue. It seems that most senior officers, no longer check junior ones who are misbehaving. We must check them so that our image does not nosedive to a level that will cause aspersions to be cast on the good officers and men of this noble profession.
You said President Buhari was working on improving welfare of the officers, how far with that plan?
The general welfare of officers and men, are what you can call “work in progress.” There is the urgent need to improve on the general welfare of officers and men. I also know that it has to be in the budgetary proposal. Seriously speaking, there is an urgent need to improve the welfare of officers and men. I am sure that President Buhari will surely do that with time. Funding for the police is very poor and the money approved by the National Assembly is usually not release up to 30 to 40% by the federal government.
There is need to improve the general welfare of the police if we desire a good country, where crime would be reduced to the barest minimum. I’m also urging the National Assembly to pass the Nigeria Police Development Fund Bill for the sake of all Nigerians, if we desire a peaceful country. One day, we are all going to be ex-this and ex-that. If that’s the only achievement, it will be the greatest achievement ever. They will look back one day and tell their children that I was one of the people that made this country better. Mark my words, if we don’t act fast, Libya will be a child’s play.
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What’s your position on state police?
My position on state police is mixed; mixed in terms of looking at the past, present and the future. Looking at the past, not many people will give it a serious thought because of the abuse by past leaders. The present day Nigeria is full of unbelievable challenges such as terrorism, herdsmen/farmers clashes, kidnapping to mention but a few.
The future is troubling because of the present challenges, but I can tell you that the challenges are not insurmountable, especially if we are serious. Majority of the state governments cannot fund the state police because security is expensive. The present Nigeria Police are grossly underfunded, so what do we do to get out of the present complexity of criminality and security challenges?
Looking at the clamour for restructuring of the country and the unprecedented clamour for state police, it will be difficult to ignore it. It’s an idea that is worth experienced, no matter our fears as we can put checks to control the abuse by state governments. The American and other models should be carefully studied at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos.
A notorious bank robber, Kelvin, confessed he was living in Benin, Edo State during your time.
Edo State was crime infested when I reported to duty in Edo State. By the grace of Almighty God; it was reduced to the barest minimum within a period of two years. This is due to purposeful leadership. Officers were equally mobilised to the war on crime. It was a battle of good over evil.
We had the support of Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who provided logistical supports in ensuring that relative peace was achieved.
We were very close to getting Kelvin because most of his men had been arrested, but he bolted to Lagos. It was only a matter of time before his arrest.
What’s your advice to officers who are still serving?
They must uphold the dignity and power of the Force. The Nigerian Police is the foremost internal security agency and must be in the forefront in the fight against all forms of criminality. We cannot afford to be playing second fiddle to any other organisation. Of course, there must be synergy between the police and other security agencies. They must ensure that discipline, which is the bedrock of the Force, is maintained by all officers, especially the Rank and Files. Impunity must not be condoned under any guise.
If you were to come back to this world, would you still prefer to be a police officer?
I will like to be a tycoon, so that I can make money like Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola and other ‘big boys.’ I can use the money to help the downtrodden to better their lives. I’m looking forward to setting up an NGO to take care of the less privileged in the country.
What is your advice to the nation as we get set for the general elections?
I’m in the process of publishing a book on election security. Elections should not be a do or die affair. Politicians must know that there will be winners and losers. Every one running for election must adhere to the electoral laws, and should not embark on buying of arms and ammunition for thugs to cause mayhem. There should be a level playing field for contestants by all political parties. We should not destroy this country because of elections.
When it comes to traveling for relaxation, which country do you normally visit?
I love traveling to the United States and Europe. Now I want to explore traveling to Africa countries.
There was a heavy presence of notable personalities at a party organised in your honour at Bungalow Restaurant, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. How do you feel about that?
I felt honoured by the large turnout of people. The party was organised in my honour by all the Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police and Commissioners of
Police in the southwest, which included AIG Agboola
Oshodi-Glover, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 8, AIG Adamu Ibrahim Zone 2,Onikan, Lagos CP, Edgal Imohimi, Ogun State CP, Illiyasu Ahmed, CP Abiodun Odude, Oyo, CP Gbenga Adeyanju, Ondo, CP Olafimihan Adeoye, Osun, Arch Kunle Adeyemi, Mr Bube Okorodudu, AVM Terry Okorodudu and Chief Tunde Fanimokun, among others.
What do you expect from upcoming officers?
They must be able to tackle discipline. It’s only the senior officers that are maintaining discipline. People must be responsible and do their jobs. Though funding of the police is one of the major causes of indiscipline among officers and men. There is need to tackle it holistically.
