Friends of AIG Ahmed Iliyasu within and outside the Police Force converged at the Zone 2 Headquarters to give him a befitting birthday and retirement ceremony.
It was a day of celebration and honour for AIG Ahmed Iliyasu during the week as he bowed out of the Nigerian Police after years of meritorious service to the law enforcement agency and the country at large. This was after clocking the mandatory 60 years of age.
The AIG who is a proponent of community policing also had members of many communities where he had previously worked join him in the celebration. The media was also well represented at the event as he is known to accommodate the fourth estate of the realm.
AIG Iliyasu whom many noted to have an amiable personality was full of joy and exhibited it by dancing gleefully. Many praised his open door policy. He was known to own a single phone line for ease of reach and even when you call and he didn’t pick, he will return the call.
Attendees at the event poured out their commendations and well-wishes to the super cop as he steps into another phase of life.
Within the force, many officers and men had kind words to share about him. CSP Uba Adam remarked: ‘AIG Iliyasu is not just my boss and mentor, he is my father. My story cannot be complete without having AIG Iliyasu. The police and Nigerians will miss him. He is an advocate for community policing. He is a media-friendly officer.’
‘To every beginning there is surely an end. Even if he is giving another time in the police, it will still end. He has left many legacies as he bows out. We are all witnesses to what he did as CP in Ogun and Kano and then here in Zone 2.’
ACP Saadat Ismail noted: ‘AIG Ahmed Iliyasu has restored sanity to Zone 2. He is a very intelligent man, his brain is like that of a computer. He is self-disciplined. He loves justice. Since his assumption as AIG, you can’t just bring cases anyhow from the divisions, he will ask you to go back. He doesn’t allow us to transfer cases anyhow in order to avoid injustice. He is a father and role model to police officers. If you work closely with him, you will love the job. I want to believe he still has a lot to contribute to the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria as a whole. I want to wish him long life and prosperity.’
DCP Adegoke Fayoade said: ‘When you join the police, there is surely of retirement. AIG Ahmed Iliyasu is undoubtedly a super-cop. He is always alive to his responsibility and always on top of the job. As an area commander when I worked with him when he was CP in Ogun state, I could call him 1am, 2am and he will pick his call. He is of the stance that the job must be done and must be done the way he wants in a standard manner. He is a man of standards. We will continue to tap from his wealth of experience.’
‘He is a community man. He believes in community efforts so he won’t have issues returning to the community. He has a friendly disposition.’
Other friends and associates outside of the police spoke glowingly of the former police boss in Zone 2, AIG Iliyasu. On his part, security consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Badison Security, Mr. Matthew Ibadin commented ‘The AIG is not retired. He has gone ahead to start a new life. I remember when I organized a conference for PCRC Victoria Island, the AIG couldn’t come, he sent a representative and also gave us N50,000. I have never seen a police officer send money. He is a civilian in police uniform. We are here today to tell him that we love and appreciate him.’
‘We will miss his open door policy. You don’t have to fill out a form to enter his office. He listens and takes you as a son. He listens to both parties and takes decision. He treats everybody on merit. He looks at each case file carefully. Saturday, you will see him. Sunday, you will see him. He is a great man.’
A friend, Mr. Ahmed said: ‘AIG Iliyasu is a close friend of mine. He has brought a lot of progress to our community. He helps, he gives, and advises. He is a good father to everyone.’
Barr. Michael Enyinnaya, Principal Partner of Country Hill said: ‘He has a cordial relationship with us as lawyers. He makes sure that everyone is heard. He should continue to be a good example to the world. He should hold on to the truth. I pray that God will guide him and protect him.’
The Director of Life is Fun Group, shared ‘I have the good fortune of meeting him in Abeokuta in 2018. There is no air of pride in him. I told my friend that this CP is so fine and we collected his number. His motto was Zero Tolerance for crime in Ogun state. He delivered a lecture at the Judges Conference and I liked it. Anytime we call him whether day or night, he is always there. He will patiently listen to you and look into the matter. He is a problem solver. He is a man of integrity.’
In their various tributes, and words of encouragement, the PCRC National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan Ibrahim, and the Lagos State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Apostle Kehinde Showemimo stated that, “AIG Iliyasu is a man of the people with absolute listening ear, ready to act even at the shortest of notice, an enabler, enviable crime fighter and most importantly, a thorough disciplinarian.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hauwa Idris Adamu poured encomiums on AIG Iliyasu, “AIG Ahmed Iliyasu is a father figure in my life ever since, my father passed away. He taght the rudiment of public relations under the tutelage of the retiring AIG.
Other respondents were DCP Umar Shelleng, Comrade Yinka Folarin of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights; Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State, Madam Titilayo Bello; Chairman, Ogun PCRC, Chief Samson Popoola, ACP Lucy Abibo, Chairman, Lagos PCRC, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo; Zone 2 DGS, ACP Bose Akinyemi; Rev (Dr) Francis Osibowale and PCRC National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan Ibrahim.
The colorful event, was also spiced by the energetic performance of the renowned Eyo Masquerades of Lagos before the AIG Iliyasu cut an array of birthday cakes that filled the table.
In his thank you remark, AIG Iliyasu acknowledged that for everything, there is a beginning and there is an end, and the most important thing to leave on the sands of history should be deeds of positivism, saying “Always do whatever you have to do so that you will be on the good side of history”.
He reminded the police officers he was leaving behind never to relent, and that “when you fail, don’t think that is the end of life; stand up and try again, and you will succeed. Life is meant to shift: whatever you do; whatever you experience in life is part of the character and attitude that you will be judged, and it is part of your socialisation. A positive attitude comes from a positive mind, and a positive mind is that mind that always work with honesty.”
While thanking God that he was privileged to be disengaged alive considering the hassles of the job, he maintained that as before, he will always be available for anyone who is willing to tap from his wealth of experience and knowledge.
Iliyasu took charge of Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos dated November 8, 2019 from the Force Headquarters Abuja. He took over from DIG Lawal Shehu (Rtd) who was promoted and transferred to Force Headquarters.
AIG Ahmed Iliyasu holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History, Diploma in Law and Master Degree in Business Administration from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Academy Annex, Kaduna as CADET ASP in August, 1988 and has served within the force in various capacities. He started his career in his home state Kaduna as O/C Basic Studies at Police College Kaduna, 2i/c DCO Kachia Division Kaduna State, O/C GI SCIID Kaduna Command and O/C Anti Car-Theft.
He was then transferred to Gombe State as DPO Gombe Central, 2i/c SCIID Gombe and DPO Kaltungo Gombe State before he was transferred to the FCT Command Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Utako ‘B’ Division. He was made Director Professional Studies at the Nigeria Police Academy Kano, Area Commander Sokoto metro as Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner in-charge Anti-Fraud section at the force CIID Abuja.
He was also the 2i/c Command at the Port Authority, Western Command Lagos; before his elevation to the rank of Commissioner of Police and posted to the Police Staff College Jos as Coordinator of Courses, Commissioner of Police Ogun State Command and FORCE PROVOST MARSHAL (in-charge of discipline).
Prior to his elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and posting to Zone 2 Lagos: he was the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Kano State Command. As a result of his sterling qualities in the force, Iliyasu is a recipient of so many awards.