Former commissioners of police, who served in Kano state, especially the immediate past, were singled out for recognition by officers and men of the command recently in a ceremony that attracted police high commands in the state. BASHIR MOHAMMED writes.
Posting a serving police officer on a mission to head a cosmopolitan state like Kano in the capacity of commissioner, is indeed, a no mean task that requires extra-ordinary intelligence and considerable knowledge of crime detection for the state to be 100% secure.
Kano, as it is known, is a state with a huge population and various communities spreading within the precincts of the ancient city, thereby proving hectic for the police to curtail dastardly acts of undesirable elements wreaking havocs in the state.
Investigation shows that the hoodlums take advantage of the fact that the numerical strength of the police operatives fighting them is inadequate.
Such a glaring inadequacy of police man-power has made the unrepentant criminals to have a field day in some places despite the fact that hundreds of them are usually caught tragically in the cross-fire of police operatives who are out to check their excesses.
For what the police did and methodology they put on ground, they were able to achieve stunning successes to the amazement of residents of the ancient city. This is happening at a time one had never imagined that such a feat could be achieved.
The roll call of deserving officers
It is an indisputable fact that the state was abundantly blessed with resilient police commissioners who had fought to send some notable crime kingpins packing, employed their masterstroke to prove that Kano is no safe haven for them to perpetrate all sorts of crimes.
Mohammed Wakili
Beginning with the eventful stint of the one-time commissioner of police, Alhaji Mohammed Wakili, who wielded his authority with the iron fist of an intrepid and no-nonsense police officer, who out of his penchant to stamp out all forms of criminalities, strove to cow agents banditry into total submission.
He came on board at the crucial moment of the 2019 general elections with Kano almost taking a lead in criminalities perpetrated by those who took solace in murdering sleep. He swung into action by keeping the hoodlums at bay and forced them into hiding.
Wakili employed his professional acumen in making Kano peaceful and secure ahead of the gubernatorial election, even with the allegation that he was dancing to the tune of the opposition in order to make the re-election of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje utterly impossible.
Ganduje himself had openly criticised the former police commissioner for playing into the gruelling hands of opposition cabal, hell-bent on wresting power from him, allegedly using him as a cannon-fodder, a situation that led to Wakili’s unceremonious exit from the saddle of power without the Ganduje administration organising a splendid farewell in his honour.
Alhaji Ahmed Iliyasu
With Alhaji Ahmed Iliyasu taking the gauntlet shortly after succeeding Wakili, he equally swung into action by apprehending criminals of different affiliations making them to have sleepless nights in the face of the awesome might of the police security operatives.
His superlative feats
He undoubtedly carved a niche for himself for checkmating those who touted themselves as Al-Caphones or remnants of the much- dreaded Gambino’s family who fabled a name in the business of committing heinous crimes, drafting his resilient fighters to where such crimes were being perpetrated, leading to arrests at various black spots, thereby eliciting commendations for the former commissioner.
He is one who stoutly rose to fight the despicable antics of notable abduction kingpins that often kidnap their victims for ransom and other high-profile armed robberies in addition to apprehending suspected car snatchers and notable drug barons.
For Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf, with the business of policing a cosmopolitan city like Kano and its complex nature, he had also carved a niche for himself by sending shivers down the spines of criminals in various hide-outs in Kano, using his cognate experience in the force at bursting abominable crimes.
His elevation to AIG
It was as a result of his stunning success story that Alhaji Iliyasu was elevated to the rank of an Assistant-Inspector-General (AIGs) by the Police Service Commission, a result of which the state police command mooted the decision to honour them at a colourful reception.
The AIG in charge of Zone 2 liyasu, had penultimate Saturday at the reception, revealed how he managed Kano in the wake of threatening political tension.
Blueprint recalls that AIG Iliyasu was posted to Kano in the heat of the inconclusive governorship election in the state, with its attendant political tension and security challenges.
The police boss was recently promoted to AIG and redeployed to Zone 2, Lagos.
He credited his success story as Kano police boss to his exploits in intelligence-led policing, community policing, use of new technologies and respect to human rights.
Iliyasu stated this during a colourful send-forth party organised in his honour by the management, men and officers of Kano state Police Command.
He described the current state Police chief, Habu Sani, as a professional crime buster who has worked with him in different capacities and proved his onions.
He said his greatest joy is that Habu is building on the good legacies he left behind.
According to him, “I can say that I can rely on CP Habu because we have worked together and we are still working together as brothers.
“I cannot talk about the successes we recorded in Kano without making reference to the command’s management team, the area commanders, the DPOs and indeed all the officers and men of the command.
“They were and still remain my friends. I came into Kano when the state was very volatile. The state was coming out from an inconclusive election; there were other challenges, but you helped me to surmount them all. I appreciate you for giving me the energy to put up the security architecture that is working today.”
His achievements outstanding- CP Habu
CP Habu in his brief remarks described the occasion as historic, adding that, “Going by the performance and track-record of AIG Iliyasu, we were not surprised when he was promoted and asked to man Zone 2 which I can describe as a mini-Nigeria.
“I make bold to say that officers and men of this command realises and appreciate his hard works here. This is why without even notifying him, they organised this surprise send-forth ceremony just to appreciate AIG Iliyasu.”
The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of a gigantic and beautiful card gift by the command to him.
According to the chairman, organising committee, ACP Aminu Gusau, “We are presenting this small token to you just to say thank you for all the good things you did for the welfare of men and officers of the command and development of Kano State Police Command.
“No matter how small it is, please take it from us and always keep it by your side in remembrance of men and officers of this command who worked with you and who would still work with you in the future.”
The colourful reception was widely recognised and applauded as a mark of honour to the immediate past police commissioners, having remarkably stamped their imprint on the security land-scape of the country which would undoubtedly serve as an inspiration to those willing to follow his footsteps.
It was, however, the contention of notable security persons that there is a compelling need for the federal government to effect a greater paradigm shift in supporting various police commands in the country with the logistics support and funds needed to wax stronger, taking into cognisance that the good example of Kano should be a source of emulation to other commands across the country.
