On Wednesday 22nd, 2023, the Nigeria Police Force pulled out no fewer than 14 Senior Officers; those who have served the country meritoriously for 35 years. DIG Johnson Kokumo was among with other 13 AIGs.
The pull-out ceremony took place at Police College in Ikeja, and many relatives, family, friends attended Police IG Usman Baba, represented by DIG Olayinka Adeleke at the ceremony, congratulated the retired officers and their families.
He also commended and celebrated the officers for meritorious services in their various capacities. “Your wealth of experience would be highly missed. Your pullout from service is coming at a time your experiences are needed for the growth and development of the nation”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the last of the Police Academy Course (POLAC) pioneers 1/1988 in Lagos, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Johnson Babatunde Kokumo said “One Hundred and Ninety-Eight of us commenced training on March 15, 1988.
One Hundred and Seventy-Eight completed training. While many of them have been called to glory long before they reached retirement, age; our appointment into the force was both divine and fortuitous. After finishing tertiary education, many had no premonition of becoming Police Officers. We must admit that the journey thus far have not been easy. The love and passion we had for the job were the driving forces that kept us going. On several occasions, we would leave for work and would not know when we would return. This became a pattern, and our lovely families grew accustomed to it. It was also impossible to predict where we would be deployed next. As a result, the family belongings were always kept in a condition that allowed for such frequent movements without being noticed.”
“We commend our wives and lovely children for their perseverance and prayers at all times. We acknowledge the roles that our superiors played in developing us and providing us with the necessary professional knowledge and direction, both in the training colleges and on the pitch”.
After DIG Kokumo’s speech, it was time for the pull out parade, and the POLAC pioneers who participated include: AIG Isaac Akinmoyede, AIG Olatunji Akingbola, AIG Andrew Amengheme, AIG Amaechi Elumelu, AIG Ngozi Onadeko, AIG Eboka Friday, AIG Adesina Soyemi, AIG Ashafa Adekunle, AIG Edward Egbuka, AIG Olawale Olokode, AIG Abutu Yaro, CP Adetokunbo Owolabi and CP Selem Amachree.
Let’s tell you about DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, popularly called ‘JB’ He was born in Agege, Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State to the family of Pa/High Chief Jacob Olusola Kokumo, a former Baale of Alimosho Town in Lagos, the Oga-Nla of Ilugun Christians and Ntoye of Kemta, Egbaland who died in the year 2005 and Mrs Elizabeth Morenike Kokumo, nee Sholiyi who worked for several years as a School Teacher in Lagos and rose to the position of Head Teacher before her retirement.
DIG JB Kokumo attended University of Maiduguri for his tertiary education where he studied Sociology and Anthropology and graduated with Bachelors of Science (B.Sc) Second Class Honours Upper Division in 1982. He participated in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in 1982/83. Due to his strong passion for academic excellence and greater knowledge, DIG Kokumo enrolled at the University of Lagos, Akoka for his post-graduate course, where he bagged Masters of Science degree in Sociology with specialization in Criminology in 1983/84. For reason of his unquenchable thirst for inter-disciplinary knowledge, in year 2017, he applied and was offered admission for LLB Degree, Senior Status of the University of Buckingham; a programme currently deferred due to national service exigency.
DIG Johnson Kokumo, a gentleman, but gallant Police Officer with vast experience in operations, investigation, armament, and intelligence-led policing enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on the 15th March, 1988 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). In his sojourn in the Force, JB as he is fondly called by friends and well-wishers has served in various capacities including working as a teaching staff at the Police Premier Training Institution, Police College, Ikeja. Other places he has served include: (i.) Administration Officer, Idimu Division, Lagos State; (ii.) Operations Officer, Itire Division, Lagos State; (iii.) Divisional Police Officer, Sango-Ota, Ogun State; (iv.) Commanding Officer Police Mobile Force (PMF), Squadron No. 16, Abeokuta, Ogun State; (v.) Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Ogun State; (vi.) Area Commander, Karewa, Adamawa State; (vii.) Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Anti-Robbery and Anti-Kidnapping, Special Operations, South-East, Nigeria; (viii.) Assistant Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS); (ix.) Deputy Commissioner of Police, General Investigation (GI), Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department; (x.) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Lagos State Command; (xi.) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Anambra State Command; (xii.) A two-time Commissioner of Police Edo State Command;
(xiii.) Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command; (xiv.) Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Federal Operations, Abuja; (xv.) Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos. (xvi.) Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Research and Planning, Abuja; vii. Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Abuja.
DIG JB Kokumo doubles as the Supervisory DIG for the South-West Geopolitical Zone and he is an Alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, having attended the prestigious institute as a member of Course 41/2019, which earned him the suffix of mni.
It is worthy to note that DIG Johnson Kokumo in 2020, then as Commissioner of Police successfully supervised the Edo State Gubernatorial election despite the threat of violence before the election. He also coordinated the security architecture for 2022 Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections which were adjudged to be very peaceful.
DIG Johnson Kokumo; a thoroughbred, versatile, hardworking and educationally well-equipped gentleman has attended several professional courses, which include the following: (i.) Mobile Police Squadron Commanders’ retreat; (ii.) Workshop on Human Rights; (iii.) Workshop on Human Trafficking and Forensic Science (iv.) One year Policy and Strategy Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies; (v.) Training Workshop for Attorneys-General and Chiefs of Public Prosecutions in Africa.
DIG JB Kokumo is a member of the following professional bodies: (i.) International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); (ii.) American Sociological Association (iii.) American Society of Criminology; (iv) Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences; (v.) Nigerian Institute of Management.
These include: (i.) Egba Heritage Foundation Award for Outstanding Performance, (ii.) Africa Security Watch Award for Most Outstanding Anti-crime Police Chief in West Africa. (iii.) Nigeria Crime-View Commendation for Competence and Integrity.
(iv.) National Watch Distinguished Award of Excellence in Security and Safety Scheme (v.) Cornerstone Distinguished Service Award (vi.) Treasure Minds Award for Outstanding Performance. (vii.) Young Lawyers’ Forum Merit Award (viii.) Edo State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Award of Excellence.
DIG Johnson Kokumo, the dashing looking gentleman officer is a dedicated family man blessed with glorious children and truly happily married to an elegantly beautiful, carrier woman, a mother, supportive wife and epitome of love; Chief/Mrs Irene Afolashade Kokumo (nee Gbadebo), a retired Permanent Secretary; the Otun Iyalode of Oke-Ona Egba. JB is a highly detribalized Nigerian whose hobbies include listening to classical music, reading, mountaineering, travelling and playing table tennis.
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