Victor Olaiya: A Supercop with Midas Touch

By Ayantunde Ayangbayi, JP

Mr Victor Olaiya, the incumbent Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, upon his arrival and assumption of office on 10th October, 2024, vowed to boost security by dealing ruthlessly with all manner of crimes and criminalities in the state. It was a sound of warning to command’s strategic managers, stakeholders and the general public that the Lagos homeboy is a no nonsense officer and a supercop, who is out to perform his duties strictly and professionally.

As if that was not enough, CP Victor Olaiya set the ball rolling when he convened a high level strategic security meeting on 11th October, 2024 at the Police Officers, Mess, GRA Ilorin. The meeting brought together major stakeholders in the state; this comprised 16 local government chairmen in the state, traditional rulers in various communities, vigilante/hunter leaders in the 16 LGAs, and the SSA Security to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, to address the security challenges and to enhance coordination across the state.

At the meeting, CP Olaiya emphasized the importance of collaboration among security agencies and stakeholders, stressing that unified efforts are key to safeguarding our communities from crime and criminalities, strengthening the synergy between various local security outfits is of import while urging security operatives to remain honest, vigilant and shun any act of complicity in criminal activities within their communities.

In order to be seen working his talk, the Police chief has charted a blueprint for security operatives and managers to perform their duties effectively so that the citizens can sleep with their two eyes closed. Indeed, all the step the CP has taken to enhance a secured communality, safety, protection of all citizens and peaceful co-existence among diverse ethnic groups in Kwara State has been apparently achieved. A significant collaboration between traditional security groups, community policing and the police in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, ritual killing and other criminal activities is doing the wonder in the crime management and control.

An ugly scenario occurred recently concerning Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, an alleged serial killer and ritualist and his victim, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, graduate of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin that was gruesomely killed.

The conduct of the police detectives in unraveling the mystery behind the death of the lady is excellent, professional and courageous. The conduct of the policemen that handled the matter can be likened to British Police in Scotland Yard, London. This is kudos to CP Olaiya on his leadership style that manifests in the conduct of the officers and men of Kwara Command.

The Police chief has impressed not a few Kwarans and indeed Nigerians with his steering leadership traits. His contribution to the development, growth and effective policing in Kwara Command is monumental. Undoubtedly, this supercop has proven his mettle as a thorough trained security management expert, who will be celebrated on a higher pedestal soon.

An alumnus of the prestigious University of Lagos with Bachelor of Art (B.A) and Master of Art (M.A) degrees in Philosophy, CP Olaiya enroled in the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 as a member of Course 3 of the Nigeria Police Academy and passed out as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Trained at home and abroad in the best tradition, the CP has, before now, worked in several Police commands and formations across the country and held command positions at various times in his career, spanning 33 years of immaculate service years with precision.

CP Olaiya, while serving as Assistant Commissioner of Police (Admin) in Nasarawa State, was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Investment at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, before being further deployed to Yobe State as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin). He was promoted to the enviable rank of Commissioner of Police in March 2023 and deployed as the CP in charge of INEC headquarters in Abuja, from where he was posted as the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command.

Under the leadership of CP Olaiya, the officers, and men of Kwara Command are mentally and physically fit, responding to security challenges adequately while the traffic division of the command is up and doing in traffic management, particularly in Ilorin metropolis. The general public is informed and persuaded that the police is their friend and they should feel free to pass information to Area Commands and Divisional Police Stations for prompt attention. This has really made the areas to be calm and peaceful.

A first class traditional ruler in Southern part of the State once said, “CP Victor Olaiya is doing a good job in the State. Kwarans have all cause to sleep with their two eyes closed. He is ever ready to live up to his responsibilities any time, any where and any day”.

Also, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, the Command PRO once told a newspaper that “Kwara Command under CP Victor Olaiya is courageously responding to its constitutional responsibilities – in adherence to the rule of law, using the community policing strategy in line with the global best practices”.

CP Olaiya has not done any job apart from police duties and assignments, and so far, he has been living up to expectation. A devout Christian, the Police chief is happily married and blessed with children.

Ayangbayi, JP is a Journalist/Media Consultant based in Ilorin