Dedication To Duty: DCP Abba Kyari Example -By Gozie Irogboli

When the young Abba Kyari left the university in 1997, like many intelligent young men of his time, he had many career options available to him but he followed his passion by joining the Nigerian Police Force. It appears that his childhood dream was to fight crime and rid the nation of criminal elements. And ever since, he has proved to be a round peg in a round hole, distinguishing himself in every assignment and every duty and in every department of the force he has served. Today almost twenty years after, he is a success story. And when the history of the Nigerian Police Force and crime fighting is written, one of those whose achievement would stand out prominently is that of DCP Abba Kyari. From the position of cadet inspector in the year 2000, he rose phenomenally through the ranks to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police in less than twenty years of service and at a young age of 43; one of the youngest to wear that rank in the history of the Force. Interestingly, his meteoric rise was not by patronage or “godfatherism” as is usually the case in this part of the world but by dint of hard work.

At present, he is obviously one of the poster boys of the Force and unarguably the most decorated. Every police command wants his Midas touch. Apart from being the youngest to wear the rank of DCP, he has many first to his credit. And his contributions to crime fighting have not gone unnoticed as the police high command and the Police Service Commission have rewarded him accordingly. Currently, the DCP Abba Kyari is the Commander, of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). He is also a member of International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Before now, he was the Officer in Charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos. A position he held for five years between 2010 and 2015, battling armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other violent crimes.

When one considers global insecurity and the precarious security situation in the country now one will see the imperative of commending men like DCP Abba Kyari who has dedicated himself exclusively to combating crimes in the society. Indeed, when you learn of the number of high-profile cases he had successful busted, then the need to acknowledge his contribution to the peace and security of the nation becomes very pertinent. Although, there is no space in this piece to catalogue the numerous high-profile cases he has handled but a few will suffice for example. It was he who re-arrested the notorious Taraba kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala Wadume. He led the arrest of intelligent billionaire kidnapper Evans, the arrest of the killers of former Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh (Retd.), the arrest of 22 members of the Boko Haram terrorist responsible for the Chibok Girls kidnap in 2014 and several bombings in the North East among others.

Undoubtedly, you cannot accomplish what he has without being tough. He is truly tough and yet very humane. He is urbane, positive and of genteel disposition and yet firm and resolute in his duties. Those who know him from close quarters can attest to his passion and dedication to duty. He is many things to many people. To his colleagues, he is a jolly good fellow and a team player. His colleagues see him as an archetype of a good officer of the law. To his superiors, he is a dedicated officer with great capacity for advancement. To the public he is a super cop; a crime buster and to the criminals, he is a terror. He works conscientiously, with empathy and with zero tolerance to unethical conducts. He is a thorough bred professional who play by the rules, who is bound by sound ethical conduct. In all his decisions, the country and the police force come first before his personal interest. The overriding factor in all his dealings is the nation and the citizenry.

In the past, when you hear of special units and special squad in the police, you associate them with brutality, oppression, extortion, accidental discharge and things like that but in the case of DCP Abba Kyari, despite the dangerous assignments and operations he is saddled with he has never allowed himself or his boys to be used by unscrupulous individuals to settle personal scores or be used to oppress or intimidate people. He has not allowed pride, arrogance or corruption to infiltrate his camp. He has never consciously or unintentionally played into the hands of criminals and corrupt individuals. He is focused intently on his duty. He remains punctilious, patriotic and dedicated.

Indeed, if our law officers and security officers work conscientiously the way the likes of DCP Abba Kyari works, crime and violence in Nigeria will reduce to the barest minimum. He is unarguably the type of officers we need in anti-corruption agencies or other specialized agencies. The war against corruption will take a different dimension when we have the likes of DCP Abba Kyari there.

Expectedly, in recognition of his sterling qualities and commitment to duty, he has been given countless number of awards at home and abroad some of which are: IGP commendation Medal for courage 2012, 2013 and 2014, Security Watch Africa best Anti-Crime Office in West Africa, Star Award for Outstanding Gallantry in Africa 2018, the Police Officer of the Decade Award among others.

Interestingly, despite his numerous accomplishments and awards of recognition garnered in so short a period, he still remained himself—humble, gentle, and unassuming. He is still disciplined, patriotic, selfless and altruistic. If there is any young person who is promising, he is. He is young, intelligent, smart, ebullient and forward-looking. He is a shining example and role model for the junior officers and the youth.

Thus as he marks his birthday today the 17th day of March I join millions of other well-meaning Nigerians in wishing him happy birthday and to congratulate him also on the recent Vigor Award he received from the Canadian based organization.

Clearly, I am writing this not just for Abba Kyari but to other people out there on national assignment or public service to inspire them to work conscientiously. There will be hope for this country when we have people genuinely dedicated to the service of the nation.

Gozie Irogboli
goziei@yahoo.com
An economist, a consultant and public policy analyst