By Osaji Chukwura
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is a credible organisation, performing it’s constitional responsibility of protecting lives and property, as well as curbbing criminality of all sorts.
Many police officers have distinguished themselves by exhibiting patriotism in performing their constitional responsibility of curtailing crimes of various vices.
Though, there are a few of them with ulterior motives, whose resented attitude have given bad image to the Force. Generally an average Nigerian perceive the police as an enemy to the civil society, because of inhumane and corrupt attitude of a few of them.
Some of them exhibit tyranny and outright violation of human rights, couple with official corruption. These crop of police officers have dented the good image of the Force.
The authority is not unaware,of these bad eggs, and has subsequently dismissed many erring police officers. Some have compulsorily been retired, while some others have their ranks reduced to serve as detent.
In spite of the few bad elements, many police officers are exhibiting integrity and patriotism, upholding the tenets of the noble profession.
And in appreciation of their selfless services to the nation, the authority constantly recognises and rewards their outstanding performances with automatic promotions and letters of commendation.
One of such outstanding officers is, Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade, the AIG in charge of Zone 2 Police Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states.
Born on 28th October 1966, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, hails from Ila-Orangun in Ila Local Government Area of Osun State.
Qualifications
He holds a Master Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Lagos, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Lagos State University, a Diploma in Police Science and LLB (Hons) from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
He was at John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, New York, USA. He is a proud Alumnus of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Course 45, 2023.Kuru -Jos, Plateau State
Career
AIG Adegoke A. Fayoade was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force on 18th May, 1992 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP.)
Working Experience
He has served in various capacities, across the Federation as he grows through the ranks. In the early part of his career, he served in Taraba, Akwa-Ibom and Abia states. He was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ilupeju, Victoria Island, Ajao Estate and MAN Centre Police Station, Ikeja Lagos.
In 2014, he was deployed as Commandant of the Police Training College Oyin-Akoko, Ondo State, after his promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
In 2015, he became the Area Commander at Otta Area Command, Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
Fayoade was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in 2018, and was deployed as DC Maritime Command, Lagos, and later as DC (Admin) Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
Based on his outstanding performances as DC Maritime and as DC Admin Zone 2 Command, the authority did not hesitate in posting him as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the elite State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Panti, Yaba Lagos, in January 2021.
His performances without blemish led to his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP), and deployed to head Armament in Force Headquarters, Abuja, from 2022 –2023.
Courses
International Manager’s Course, Staff College Jos (2009)
Abu Dhabi UAE ( 2014)
Institutionalizing Community Policing for countering violent extremism.
The Role of Police in Countering Violent Extremism, Abu-Dhabi, UAE.
Assessing Police Capacity for Community Policing to counter extremism.
Community Policing and Countering Violent Extremism from policy to practice,
Abu Dhabi, UAE April 2014
Awards
Adegoke Fayoade the crime cracker, as he is commonly called by his peers and junior police officers, has policing with integrity imbibe in his life style.
As a Divisional Police officer (DPO) in Lagos, a city that police officers can easily be influenced for corruption, Fayoade stood out tall among his peers, and exhibited patriotism, integrity and an exemplary performances. As a result of his exemplary performances of crime prevention, with human-face, and introducing innovations, he was rated and awarded the Best Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lagos twice.
Similarly, he got a two-time International Award as Best Divisional Police Officer in Africa,
United Arab Emirates in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Again, he got a two-time Meritorious Award on crime fighting from Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN)
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He also got an Award by National Association of Nigerian Students in 2013 and CLEEN Foundation, respectively.
The Hague, Netherlands, and Nairobi, Kenya, in 2007 West Africa, presented by Security Watch Africa in South Africa and; Networking. Lagos State Government Honour Award for Excellence, 2013, to mention but a few.
His exemplary performances as DPO in various stations in Lagos, and in SCID Panti, earned him speedy deployment to head Lagos State Police Command as soon as he concluded his NIPSS course in Jos.
He assumed office as the 39th Commissioner of Police Lagos State on
December 14th, 2023
AIG Adegoke Fayoade the crime cracker, is a devoted Christian who abhors corruption and hates criminals with passion. He abhors criminality, and with that zeal, he was able to puncture a high profile kidnapping gang that some former senior officers were unable to curb. The high profile kidnapping gang were said to had targeted only the rich in Lagos, with foreign currencies as their preferred ransom. Some of them were gunned down during an exchange of fire with the police, while on their way to kidnap some top Lagos residents. Their arrest was celebrated nation wide, especially by Lagos residents.
That extra feat, restored public confidence on the Nigeria Police Force that, indeed there are credible and patriotic police officers in the country.
During last nationwide protest he personally led the protesters to ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the protest to cause mayhem.
Remarkably, he bought the protesters snacks and and drinks. That singular act of “police is your friend” brought peace in Lagos.
So many senior police officers serving and retired, as well as the public, commended his exemplary wisdom. That commendable act was the first of its kind in Lagos by police officers
The authority is obviously proud that one of its own is redeeming the battered image of the NPF.
As soon as he was promoted to the rank of an AIG he was promptly deployed to head Zone 2 Police Command.
He fought crime and criminal activities to a standstill in Lagos, before his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG.
As an AIG he was meritoriously posted to head Zone 2 Police Command headquarters Onikan, Lagos, comprising Lagos and Ogun states commands, as the 32nd AIG on September 17th, this year 2024.
As policing with integrity runs in his veins, AIG Adegoke Fayoade also exhibited integrity and patriotism again at Zone 2, when he rejected S100,000 about (174million) bribe offered to him and his officers by a suspected internet fraudster, Patrick Akpoguma.
He had told the head of the investigating team, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ngozi Braide to play along with the suspect and mark the S100,000 bribe as an exhibit and as an evidence to prosecute the suspect.
His rejection of the N174million bribe, which went virile across the globe, further redeemed the image of the Nigeria Police both in Nigeria and abroad.
A Nigerian in diaspora based in Seoul, South Korea, Mr Kennedy Ubeku who said he read the cheering news abroad, commended Fayoade and his officers, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last month November 2024.
He told NAN that: “The story of police rejecting bribe is reminding us that there is still hope through the selfless efforts of some individuals dedicated to upholding the integrity and making a difference in redeeming the image of Nigeria.”
” This is a heartfelt commendation of his efforts, with the hope that his actions will inspire others and his example shine brightly for all to see,”
Ubeku noted that Nigeria was in “dire need of a systemic overhaul, and everyone’s responsibility to compliment the government’s efforts in redeeming the image of Nigeria abroad”.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of BubbleXtra Technology in Soul.
It is pertinent to stress that, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the police authority should give AIG Adegoke Fayoade and his team, a national award or national recognition to boost their morale and inspire other patriotic police officers, as well as those of the military and other security personnel.
Osaji Chukwura is a human rights activist.
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