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I used to hate policemen, it was a miracle I became one-Ex-IGP confesses
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Mike Okiro, former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), recently shared in an interview with TheSun on his 75th birthday that becoming a member of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) wasn’t his childhood aspiration.
He described joining the force as nothing short of a miracle.
Okiro, who served as the 13th IGP and later chaired the Police Service Commission (PSC), recounted how his perspective on the police force evolved during his time as a student activist at the University of Ibadan (UI).
He mentioned frequent clashes between his group and the police, recalling instances where they were consistently obstructed from pursuing what they believed was just.
He said: “That I grow up to be an IGP is by God’s grace. That I equally joined the police was something out of the ordinary. Because as a young man growing up, I never had an encounter with the police. We saw the police from a distance.
“My father was a civil servant. When I became a student in university, one of the people I hated the most was the police. Why? because I was a student activist. I believed in taking active action in student activities. Often then we had an encounter with the police and I did not like the police at all because they were always preventing us from doing what we thought was right to do.
“They were always preventing us from protesting against domination and injustice. So, I did not like the police. But here I am now. I joined the police out of curiosity and adventure. I became the IG by God’s providence and blessing. I retired after 60 years of age. It is the mandatory age for retirement. Here I am now at 75.”
President Bola Tinubu has asked the senate to approve a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The request was contained in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and read on the floor of the senate on Tuesday by Godswill Akpabio.
In the correspondence, Tinubu said the proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation of state police services.
The president said the bill is designed to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges by introducing a dual policing structure that would allow both federal and state policing systems to operate within a constitutional framework.
According to him, the proposal builds on previous legislative efforts by both chambers of the national assembly and contains additional safeguards to ensure effective implementation.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges, will be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
The president described the proposed legislation as a key component of his administration’s broader plan to reform Nigeria’s security system and improve the protection of lives and property.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I’m confident that the Senate will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he added.
Read Also: Amnesty International Demands Immediate Release of Omoyele Sowore, Condemns Detention
Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the proposal expeditious consideration.
Following the reading of the letter, Akpabio referred the bill to the senate committee on constitution review for further legislative action.
The committee was directed to report back to the chamber on the next legislative day.
The Nigerian Senate has fixed Wednesday for the passage of the state police bill.
The lawmakers had cut short their recess to consider the bill, which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution and decentralise Nigeria’s policing system in response to worsening security challenges
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday transmitted an executive version of the bill to the Senate through a letter dated June 15, 2026.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a dual policing system in which federal and state police forces operate alongside each other.
At the plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the proposal as a key step towards restructuring Nigeria’s security framework.
The proposed legislation was immediately referred to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, which is expected to present its report for consideration and voting.
Akpabio called on senators to be present for the exercise, stressing the need for broad support to secure its passage.
“Every senator should endeavor to come tomorrow to be part of this exercise.
“We are going to be live tomorrow and your constituents will be seeing what you are doing,” he added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has presented Certificates of Return to candidates who emerged victorious in the by-elections conducted on June 20, 2026, across Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo and Kano States.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the electoral commission.
According to INEC, the certificates were presented on behalf of the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, by the Supervising National Commissioner for Rivers State, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu.
Speaking during the presentation, Agbamuche-Mbu congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to prioritise the interests of the people they were elected to represent.
“The most important responsibility before you is to represent your constituents well,” Agbamuche-Mbu said.
The National Commissioner also reminded the winners of the expectations placed on them by voters and encouraged them to serve with diligence and commitment.
INEC further disclosed that Certificates of Return would also be presented to winners of other recently concluded elections, including the Zuru State Constituency election in Kebbi State and the governorship election in Ekiti State.
INEC said the presentation of the certificates followed the conclusion of the bye-elections conducted on June 20, 2026.
Tinubu Seeks Constitutional Backing For State Police, Writes Senate
State Police: Senate will formally pass Bill on Wednesday
INEC formally confirms winners of by-elections, issues certificates of return
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