Nwobodo heads Police Zone 7 command

The New Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7 Command, comprising Niger, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Godwin Nwobodo, has warned hoodlums, especially kidnappers and armed robbers, to quit the zone or face his wrath. AIG Nwobodo, who was posted to the zone by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, recently to take over from AIG Taiwo Lakanu, who is now the Force Secretary, said his mission, apart from fighting violent crime, would be to join forces with the special unit drafted by the IGP to fight kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways in the command.

Nwobodo said kidnapping and robbery in the area were becoming a source of embarrassment, but would soon become a thing of the past as his command would move in to fight the war to the finish.
He said , until his latest appointment, he was in charge of the Border Patrol and knew the nooks and crannies of the highways, the mode of operation of hoodlums and how to deal with the problems.

Born on August 12, 1959, in Aninri Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nwobodo completed his primary school education at Alafia Institute (Free Section), Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, in 1973, and obtained his WASC and HSC at Olivet Baptist High School, Olivet Heights, Oyo, in 1978 and 1980, respectively. He earned a B.Sc (honours) degree in Biochemistry in1983 from University of Ibadan and participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in 1984, in Ondo State. He joined the Nigerian Police Force on December 31, 1984.

Nwobodo also holds an LL.B, BL (Law), M.Sc in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology as well as MSS (Masters Strategic Studies) from the University of Ibadan. He is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (Nigerian branch), the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Institute of Management, the Society for Peace Studies and Practice as well as a fellow of the prestigious National Defence College, Nigeria. He is a member of the Air Assault and Ikeja Golf Clubs.

The new AIG, Zone 7, was the Commissioner of Police (Courses) at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, before his recent promotion to the rank of AIG and his initial deployment to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos. He has served in a number of commands and Departments of the Police Force, from 1986. He was equally part of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations Peace Missions in Kosovo and Haiti.

The legendary police officer has attended several courses both within and outside Nigeria, including the Strategic Leadership and Command Course and the Advanced Detective Cours, at the Nigeria Police Staff College, Jos, and the Unit Commanders’ Orientation Course and Training in Combat/Operations, at Police Mobile Force Training College, Gwoza, Borno State, among others.

Nwobodo’s academic sojourn also includes Higher Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College, Nigeria. His M.Sc. Strategic Studies dissertation on the “Nigeria Police Force in the Criminal Justice System and National Security” was recently approved, leading to the award of the MSS degree from the University of Ibadan.
Meanwhile, AIG Lakanu, has been appointed the secretary of the Police Force and member of the Nigeria Police Force Management Team. The development was disclosed recently in a statement released by the police and signed by the force public relations officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood. The appointment is with immediate effect.

Lakanu took over from AIG Abdul Bube, who retired from the police on December 31, 2018, after 35 years in service.

“He (Lakanu) served in various capacities in the force as AIG Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Commissioner of Police in Imo and Ekiti states, Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Lagos, and Principal Staff Officer to the IGP (Force Headquarters Annex), Lagos, among others.
“Until his recent appointment, he was the AIG in charge of Zoneheadquarters, Abuja, comprising the Federal Capital Territory, Niger and Kaduna states. He has since assumed duty as the Force Secretary, Nigeria Police Force,” the statement read.