The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has lauded the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Dayo Akinbisehin, and his team for their dedication to duty, innovation, and adherence to ethical policing standards.

The commendation came during CP Jimoh’s official visit to the SCID facility at Panti, where he was warmly received by DC Akinbisehin and introduced to senior officers and management personnel. The visit included an inspection of several recovered stolen vehicles, a testament to the department’s effectiveness under DC Akinbisehin’s leadership.

In his welcome address, DC Dayo Akinbisehin expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Commissioner for his ongoing support and mentorship.

“We are profoundly grateful for your guidance and professionalism, sir. The successes we have recorded in recent months are largely due to the standard of leadership you continue to exemplify,” DC Akinbisehin stated.

Reacting, CP Jimoh applauded the competence and integrity demonstrated by officers of the State CID in managing and resolving complex criminal cases.

“I commend the efforts and dedication of the State CID officers. Your handling of high-profile cases has brought pride to this command,” he remarked.

CP Jimoh also took note of the department’s infrastructural improvements and the newly installed tributes honoring the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

“This new look reflects the professionalism and respect we must uphold within the Nigerian Police Force. I encourage you all to stay committed to the ethical standards enshrined in the Police Act,” he added.

As part of the engagement, DC Akinbisehin made strategic requests to further enhance operational efficiency and capacity building within the department. He emphasized the need for continued investment in tools and personnel training to sustain their performance.

Concluding the event, CP Jimoh reiterated a strong message on the use of firearms by officers. He emphasized the principles of Proportionality, Legality, Accountability, and Necessity (PLAN) as critical to maintaining public trust and lawful conduct in police operations.

“Let us not forget that every action we take while armed must be justified and guided by these fundamental principles,” CP Jimoh advised.

The visit marks a significant moment in ongoing efforts to improve community policing and internal accountability within the Lagos State Police Command.

There are fresh calls within security and political circles urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit his 2023 political journey and reward loyalty—particularly among high-ranking security officials who allegedly risked everything to secure his emergence as president.

A well-informed source who spoke on condition of anonymity told NigeriaUpdates that out of the 10 key service chiefs who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and were inherited by Tinubu during his early months in office, three played extraordinary behind-the-scenes roles to ensure that the then-presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was declared winner of the 2023 general election.

“These three men became enemies to their colleagues who wanted to do the bidding of those who never wanted Asiwaju,” the source disclosed. “They blocked the interim government plan allegedly orchestrated by former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Governor Hope Uzodinma, APC’s then National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, and others.”

According to the insider, these military and intelligence officers took significant personal risks, including financial, reputational, and professional, to counter internal threats within government institutions.

“They spent serious amounts of money in hard currencies to thwart hidden agendas by the likes of [former CBN Governor] Godwin Emefiele, [former AGF] Abubakar Malami, and others,” the source added. “Two weeks to the election, they were nearly fired for refusing to shift ground. They fought deadly security and intelligence battles—both locally and internationally—for Asiwaju’s emergence.”

Despite their sacrifices, only one of the three officers has reportedly been rewarded, while the other two have been largely ignored by the current administration.

Security Power Play Ahead of 2027

Observers argue that Tinubu may soon face significant challenges in navigating the complex landscape of Nigeria’s security and intelligence architecture, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general election begin to take shape.

“Asiwaju will find it very difficult to navigate through the security and intelligence power-play owing to the fact that his current Chief of Army Staff doesn’t command the needed followership like the late Lagbaja did,” said the source. “Hence, the need for him to employ the services of some security and intelligence veterans.”

The source further warned that President Tinubu is currently being furnished with “half-baked” intelligence, which may be compromising national security strategy and political calculations.

“To call a spade a spade, Asiwaju is furnished with half-baked intelligence as at today. His opponents are far more enriched with intelligence. Saboteurs are everywhere,” the source claimed.

A Test of Loyalty and Strategy

Political analysts note that how President Tinubu handles the loyalty question among his former security allies could either strengthen or weaken his long-term strategy. The build-up to 2027 is already being monitored by both domestic opposition and international players, and many within his camp believe that re-engaging tested loyalists will be key to survival and success.

Background

The 2023 election was one of Nigeria’s most contentious, with widespread concerns about vote suppression, security breaches, and elite interference. Allegations of plots to derail the democratic process through unconstitutional means, such as an “interim government,” surfaced in the weeks leading up to the election.

While Tinubu’s eventual victory was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), multiple stakeholders have since suggested that it took more than just votes to protect the integrity of the election result.

As Nigeria continues to battle escalating insecurity across several regions, renowned defence policy analyst Efosa Idehen has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently appoint retired Major-General Samuel Adebayo as the country’s Chief of Anti-Terrorism Operations.

Idehen made this passionate plea in an open commentary from Abuja, highlighting the worsening security crisis caused by bandits, kidnappers, insurgents, militants, and separatist groups. He stressed that Nigeria requires a tested military strategist to coordinate national counter-terrorism efforts, restore peace, and secure lives and properties.

“With the security situation in the land worsening on a daily basis… the defining moment has come for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a top anti-terrorism chief to oversee the ongoing war on insurgency,” Idehen stated.

A Legacy of Tactical Excellence

According to Idehen, the most suitable candidate for the role is Major-General Samuel Adebayo (rtd), former Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) and Head of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), who served from 2022 to 2024. He credited Adebayo with a strategic and methodical approach that significantly weakened criminal networks, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria.

During his tenure, Adebayo reportedly deployed modern technological tools for intelligence gathering, analysis, and action, leading to the destruction of Boko Haram enclaves and armed bandit camps.

“Major-General Adebayo was tough, dedicated, ruthless and utterly uncompromising in the war against terrorism, armed banditry, separatism, kidnapping, militancy and all other anti-social crimes,” Idehen asserted.

A Trailblazing Military Career

Major-General Adebayo’s military career spans several leadership roles, including Chief of Staff at the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Director of Military Intelligence, and Director of Operations at the DIA. Idehen noted that Adebayo not only led operational successes but also repositioned the DIA structurally and philosophically, aligning its mission with Nigeria’s defence goals.

He also introduced policy reforms and welfare packages aimed at boosting morale and enhancing operational efficiency within the agency.

“The policy reforms he put in place succeeded because Major-General Adebayo ensured that all and sundry in the DIA fully understood and wholeheartedly subscribed to the agency’s inalienable mission,” Idehen explained.

A National Security Vision Without Compromise

Idehen described Adebayo as a patriot who believed in Nigeria’s indivisibility and worked relentlessly to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“Nigeria’s existence as a corporate entity is settled and not open for negotiation. QED,” he declared, echoing the general’s unwavering stance.

He added that under Adebayo’s leadership, security operations were precise and intelligence-driven, ensuring minimal collateral damage while delivering maximum impact on terror cells.

“The tenacious DIA supremo strenuously gathered critical intel… and diligently ensured that they were accurate to the letter before taking surgical action,” Idehen noted.

A Clarion Call to President Tinubu

As insecurity threatens national stability, the call for President Tinubu to appoint a focused and experienced anti-terrorism czar is gaining momentum.

“With the outstandingly courageous and overwhelmingly forward-looking profile, resume and distinguished track record of the former defence intelligence boss, it is no surprise that the clarion call is mounting across the nation,” Idehen declared.

He concluded by urging swift presidential action:

“Let us make hay while the sun shines. There is no further time to waste. To God be the Glory.”