In 12 months, Akwa Ibom State has gotten three Commissioners of Police, investigation by StraightNews shows.
Don Awunah, the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, was transferred from the state barely seven months after assuming office.
Mr. Awunah, the 21st commissioner of police in the state, took over from his predecessor, Muritala Mani, in January 2017.
Don Awunah, was also transferred from the state barely seven months after assuming office.
According to the then police spokesperson in the state, Ikechukwu Chukwu, Mr. Awunah was transferred to the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano.
Until his posting to Akwa Ibom, Mr. Awunah served in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as spokesperson of the Force.
Mr. Awunah, who is from Benue State, had previously served in Akwa Ibom as assistant commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigative Department, from 2011 to 2013.
He holds B.A. Degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos and M.A. in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Benue State University, Makurdi.
He is a Fellow of Institute of Security Studies, Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration, and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. He holds B.A. Degree in Philosophy from the University of Lagos and M.A. in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Benue State University, Makurdi.
He is a Fellow of Institute of Security Studies, Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration, and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR.
Shortly after, Mu’azu Zubairu Halilu, another Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, who took over from him, was transferred from the state few weeks ago.
Mr. Halilu, who was the 22nd commissioner of police in the state, served for about five months in Akwa Ibom.
The police spokesperson in the state, Bala Elkana, confirmed Mr. Halilu’s transfer, in an interview said, “It is not really a transfer; he is going for a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, he is going on training for a higher officer,” said Mr. Elkana, a deputy superintendent of police.
CP Muazu Zubairu Halilu holds a B.sc (Hons.) degree in Botany from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Advance Diploma in Public Administration, University of Abuja, a Master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from University of Lagos and Master’s degree in Policy and Strategic Management from International University of Bamenda, Cameroon.
Few weeks ago, a new Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi was posted to the state and he has resumed duty.
Mr. Ogunjemilusi, who is the 23rd commissioner of police in the state, assumed duty on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.
“It is my vision to make Akwa Ibom the safest state in the country,” Mr. Ogunjemilusi told journalists at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, adding that criminals would have it tough from him.
Mr. Ogunjemilusi had served previously as the commissioner of police in Kogi State, the commissioner of police in charge of welfare at the force headquarters, Abuja, and commissioner of police in charge of INTERPOL in the country.
He holds a Master’s degree in Public Order Studies from the University of Leicester, U.K, and a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
In a telephone interview with StraightNews, Bala Elkana, the police spokesperson in the state, confirmed that “It was a normal posting. There was nothing wrong with the frequent movement. The position of Commissioner of Police is not political but purely a professional one. Someone can stay week and is moved or posted to another state. The immediate past Commissioner of Police was due for promotion so there was no need to keep him otherwise he would have lost his seniority in the service.”
Asked if their postings were connected with some security infractions in the state, Bala responded “No, no, no. It has nothing to do with security situation. If you look at it, Akwa Ibom State is one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country.”
