By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA — Abia State has a new Commissioner of Police, Mr Wilfred Afolabi, who assumed duty on Monday with a pledge to strengthen intelligence-led policing, deepen community partnership and enforce discipline within the rank and file.
CP Afolabi, who becomes the 35th Commissioner of Police in Abia, succeeds AIG Danladi Isa, who has been promoted and redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Kaduna.
The new CP, who spoke to journalists shortly after assuming office, said his administration would focus on strengthening existing security structures and re-engineering the state’s intelligence network to enhance crime prevention.
“Because of my intelligence background, intelligence is really going to be given much priority. We are going to make sure that intelligence structures are re-engineered and the intelligence network enhanced,” he said.
The new CP said his administration would replicate the agenda of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, in Abia, particularly the objective of building a police force that discharges its responsibilities with professionalism and dignity.
He disclosed that his first major engagement after assuming duty would be with the intelligence department, underscoring the importance he attaches to intelligence gathering.
The new CP also promised to take community policing to a new level through regular engagement with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, youth and religious leaders, hoteliers, pharmacists and school proprietors.
According to him, such engagement would create a “two-way traffic” through which residents could communicate their security concerns to the police while also providing useful information for crime prevention.
“When there is mutual trust, there will be free flow of information. They will feel free to share information with us,” he said.
Vows to prepare Abia police for 2027 polls
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Afolabi said his administration would embark on extensive capacity building for officers, including training on electoral laws, human rights, emotional intelligence, crime mapping and investigation.
He said officers would also undergo physical and operational preparedness exercises ahead of the elections.
“We need to make our officers undertake what I call combat courses,” he said.
The CP further promised to review existing crime prevention strategies and introduce new approaches where necessary, while ensuring greater professionalism and uniformity in the handling of police case files.
‘We won’t spare deviant officers’
Afolabi also came down hard on police personnel who deliberately abuse their powers, warning that officers who commit serious offences would face the full weight of disciplinary procedures.
He said his administration would combine mentoring and capacity building with firm disciplinary measures.
“If, after investing millions in training you, you still decide to become a deviant, be rest assured that we are not going to treat your matter with kid gloves,” he warned.
He gave an instance of any officer who unjustifiably shoots a motorist, saying such conduct would not be excused through intervention by traditional rulers or religious leaders.
“You cannot go and shoot a motorist along the highway now for no justifiable reason and expect that you will bring your king or your religious leader to come and beg me. I will not forgive you,” he said.
However, Afolabi said not every breach of duty would automatically attract dismissal, stressing that officers whose shortcomings arose from inadequate professional training would be mentored and retrained.
To prioritize welfare of officers
The new CP also listed police welfare among his priorities, arguing that officers who are properly catered for would be more motivated to perform their duties effectively.
“When our officers are taken care of and catered for, you get the best out of them,” he said.
He also pledged to maintain discipline within the command, declaring that his personal discipline would be reflected in the standards expected of officers under him.
Promises media-friendly administration
Afolabi also assured journalists of a cordial working relationship, describing the media as critical partners in crime prevention, public enlightenment and confidence-building between the police and the public.
He promised regular interaction with the media in Abia, stressing that journalists should report both the successes and shortcomings of the police.
“I’m not saying if I’m not doing well, you should keep quiet,” he said.
Afolabi said he respected journalists and regarded them as partners in the war against crime.
Meanwhile , a statement issued later by the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, described CP Afolabi as a seasoned police officer with over three decades of service, who was enlisted as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1992 and holds degrees in Botany and Peace and Security Studies.
It said Afolabi had served in several strategic command positions, including Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Admin, Training and Development at Force Headquarters, and senior operational and investigative roles in Delta, Katsina, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo and Abuja.
“Afolabi also has extensive international policing experience, having served with the African Union Mission in Sudan and the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he was involved in police reforms, training and peacekeeping operations.
“His professional training includes strategic and tactical leadership, internal security, low-intensity conflict and peacekeeping negotiation”, the statement said.
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