Nigerian Police Officer Dies A Day Before His Promotion.

Lawrence Kolawole Alawode popularly known as Ekpo, a Nigerian Police Officer attached to the Oyo State Police Command, reportedly died a day before his promotion letter was released.

According to online sources, the Nigerian Police officer died on Wednesday, March 21st after suffering from an undisclosed ailment, while his promotion letter was released on Thursday morning.

In a tribute to the late Police Officer, Steven Adedamola Goodwill wrote;

It’s quite unfortunate that you gave up the ghost yesterday while your promotion signal was released this morning……
May God Almighty gives the wife and children you left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Amen

Rest in peace Lawrence Kolawole Alawode (Ekpo)

Ishola Iyabode Olajumoke wrote;

The last time I saw you at Oyo west police station, I did not recognized you, until u said Iyabo se kosi. I totally shocked when i read the name on your uniform. You narrated what lead to your ailment, I promised to checked back on which I did just once cos I could not stand your sight. Egbon may your creator b pleased with you n forgive your short comings. Rest in peace Alawode Kolawole Ekpo.

The promotional letter of Lawrence Kolawole Alawode was released, months after the Police Service Commission announced that it has approved the promotion and confirmation of acting appointments of 250 senior Police officers.

The statement read in part:

“The Commission approved the promotion of 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the substantive rank of Commissioner of Police.

“They include Omololu Shamsiden Bishi, presently at the Nigerian Defence College, Abuja, He was former DCA Ogun State Command, former DC, CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan and Area Commander, Mushin, Lagos State; Isaac Olutayo Akimoyede also at the Defence College and former DC, Benue State; Aminu Pai Saleh; Makama Hamisu Usman; Mobolaji Olaniyi Fafowora; Igbodo David; Dajuma Mohammed Ibahim; Okon Etim Ene; Abang B. John; Aminu Koji Kwambe; Felix Gochuk Gani; Ibrahim Sabo Umar; Joseph Gobum Mukan; Wakil Mohammed and Abdullahi Yerima Ibrahim”.

The Commission also approved the promotion of 164 Chief Superintendents of Police to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and 8 Deputy Superintendents of Police to the rank of Superintendent.”

Nigerian Police:

The Nigerian Police (NP) formerly The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria with a staff strength of about 371,800. There are currently plans to increase the force to 650,000, adding 280,000 new recruits to the existing 370,000. The NP is a very large organization consisting of 36 State commands grouped into 12 zones and 7 administrative organs. The agency is currently headed by IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris.

Nigeria’s police was first established in 1820. The first person to have the highest rank in all the police is commissioner general colonel KK.

In 1879 a 1,200-member armed paramilitary Hausa Constabulary was formed. In 1896 the Lagos Police was established. A similar force, the Niger Coast Constabulary, was formed in Calabar in 1894 under the newly proclaimed Niger Coast Protectorate. In the north, the Royal Niger Company set up the Royal Niger Company Constabulary in 1888 with headquarters. When the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria were proclaimed in the early 1900s, part of the Royal Niger Company Constabulary became the Northern Nigeria Police, and part of the Niger Coast Constabulary became the Southern Nigeria Police. During the colonial period, most police were associated with local governments (native authorities). In the 1960s, under the First Republic, these forces were first regionalised and then nationalised.

The NPF performed conventional police functions and was responsible for internal security generally; for supporting the prison, immigration, and customs services; and for performing military duties within or outside Nigeria as directed. Plans were announced in mid-1980 to expand the force to 200,000. By 1983, according to the federal budget, the strength of the NPF was almost 152,000, but other sources estimated it to be between 20,000 and 80,000. Reportedly, there were more than 1,300 police stations nationwide. Police officers were not usually armed but were issued weapons when required for specific missions or circumstances. They were often deployed throughout the country, but in 1989 Babangida announced that a larger number of officers would be posted to their native areas to facilitate police- community relations.