Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Olohundare Jimoh, has been named the most outstanding anti-crime police chief in West and Central Africa for 2025, in recognition of crime prevention strategies he introduced during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.
The award, presented by the Security Watch Africa Initiative Network at the 19th edition of the African Security Watch Awards in Banjul, The Gambia, was formally handed to Jimoh in his Lagos office by the organisation’s International Coordinator, Patrick Apambu, and National Coordinator, Elizabeth Ndanku.
Jimoh could not attend the Gambia ceremony due to official commitments.
Receiving the award, the celebrated AIG said the honour reflected collective efforts of officers and personnel under his command rather than his individual contribution alone.
He credited the creation of the Eko Strike Force team, which he said grew from an initial two patrol vehicles to more than 18, for its complementing swift intervention by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
He said his strategy relied heavily on community engagement, describing Lagosians as civic-minded residents who cooperated with police to make policing more effective.
He also cited the peaceful conduct of local government elections across 20 LGAs and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) during his tenure, saying no ballot box was snatched and no electorate was attacked throughout the process.
Jimoh said the Nigeria Police Force’s mandate extended beyond law enforcement to the broader constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, pledging continued commitment to crime prevention despite the demands of the job.
In his remarks, Apambu described Jimoh as a disciplined and diligent officer who had served across several postings, including as Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) and Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Command, Eastern Ports, before his posting to Lagos. He said the award recognised measurable improvements in crime prevention and closer police-community ties achieved under Jimoh’s leadership in Lagos.