On May 6 2021, the newly appointed Commissioner of Police in the person of CP Hussaini Rabiu posted to Zamfara state as the number 30 Commissioner of Police in the state since creation in 1996, has assumed office. This is even as he promised to work closely with sister security agencies to make Zamfara peaceful and address the lingering insecurity challenges facing the state as a result of the activities of bandits and other criminals. SANUSI MUHAMMAD GUSAU reports
The newly appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) Hussaini Rabiu took over from his predecessor, Mr Abutu Yaro, who was redeployed to Imo state as the new commissioner of police after nearly a year in saddle.
Historical background of CP Rabiu
The new zamfara state police boss was born on March 26 1962 in Niger state. He attended both primary and secondary schools in his state and later attended Usman Danfodio University Sokoto where he graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor in Education. Immediately after his successful graduation, he did his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in oyo state in the year 1988.CP Rabiu got enlisted into the Nigeria police Force on March 3 1990 as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (C/ASP) and was professionally trained at the prestigious Police Academy (Kaduna Annex).
Work experiences
After his successful passing out, he was posted to the Delta State Police Command where he underwent a one- year compulsory attachment for cadet officers and later served in the following commands/formations. He was a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Enere Division in Warri Delta state; Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Warri, Delta state command, among other Divisions as DPO; 2i/c Zonal CID, Zone 5 Benin city, Edo state; O/C AIG’s Monitoring Unit, Zone 5 Benin city, Edo state. Others are Area Commander Warri, Delta State Police Command; Area Commander, Railway Zaria, Kaduna spState Police Command; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Safer Highway Patrol, Force Headquarters Abuja, Deputy Commissioner of Police SCID Bayelsa State Police Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Edo State Police Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Zone 4 Makurdi, Benue state.
He also held the position as two times Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Imo State Police Command where he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police and posted to the Force Headquarters Abuja as Cp Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD).
The new Zamfara police CP Rabiu is a seasoned and operationally-minded officer, who has attended many courses to mention but a few. Some of these include Junior Command Course 36/2001; CSP TO ACP Promotion Course 2012 and Strategic Leadership Command Course 3/2016, among others. In his introductory speech to the Strategic and Tactical Commanders of the command recently, he reiterated his determination and commitment towards enhancing a robust policing system in order to actualise the transformation and repositioning agenda of the Inspector General of police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba as well as to work in collaboration with other security agencies and host communities so that community policing concept of the Nigeria police Force can be greatly achieved. He also sought for cooperation, collaboration and partnership from members of the public by giving useful and timely information to the police to enable the command rid the state of all forms of criminalities.
His maiden press conference
In the same vein, at a maiden press conference after spending four days in office as Zamfara police chief, Rabiu said the main objectives of the briefing was to familiarise himself with the entire working journalists in the state as important partners in their efforts to manage crimes and keep Zamfara safe.He said, “First and foremost, I have a duty to thank our creator, the Almighty Allah (SWA) for giving me the strength and opportunity to stand before you today as the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command. “My deeper appreciation goes to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba for finding me worthy of this appointment.”
The new police boss also thanked the state governor, Bello Matawalle and peace loving people of the state for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him on arrival to the state, pointing out that the strengthening of the existing excellent security architecture of the state government shall remain a primary objective of his tenure as the Commissioner of Police in the state.
He noted that upon his assumption of duty as the Commissioner of Police on May 6, 2021, he extensively made a careful study of the peculiar nature of security challenges that are prevelant in Zamfara which, according to him included banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery, culpable homicide and other related crimes. He said within the period he would be in saddle as police chief, he would provide solution in order to stem the tide of the above security challenges.
To that extent, he pledged to work within the ambit of the laws with his management team to review the existing crime fighting strategies holistically so that he can continue from the successes recorded by his predecessor.
He added that, “The combat- readiness, determination and total commitment of the police under my watch would be through, total onslaught against vicious crimes and that would be carried out in partnership with the state government, other security agencies, traditional rulers, community and religious leaders.
“My Policing strategy would be an intelligence-led-driven and community participation plus engagement which transcends law enforcement to embrace human security and development services, but necessarily require diverse expertise and whole community support,” he said.
He also maintained that thorough policing has to be driven by fore-knowledge and be guided by intelligence at strategic, operational and tactical levels.
“It should therefore be proactive, preventive in orientation and conducted within the context of public ownership, partnership, participation, problem solving and community support with a mainstream human security.”
He promised that his office would go into synergy with other security agencies in the state to ensure that an effective security services to the people of Zamfara state where the atmosphere would be conducive for all and sundry.
CP Rabiu further assured members of the public in the state that the police under his watch would discharge its mandates in line with the professional ethics of the force, saying human right violation, currupt practices and other unprofessional conducts would not be tolerated, just as he warned all the recalcitrant criminal elements in the state to key into the state government peace process programme and surrender their arms or face dire consequences. He urged members of the public to continue in support to the police and other security agencies with credible information on activities of criminal elements within the state.
