Nigeria at 60: How Africa’s Most Decorated Detective Made the Nation Proud

Dipo Kehinde/

In her 60 years of nationhood, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has produced some celebrated detectives who cracked the toughest criminal cases on the continent, but one of them today stands head and shoulders above the rest.

With hundreds of deadly criminals caged after diligent investigations and relentless pursuit, the Commander of Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari has inscribed his name on the tablet of eternity as a quintessential detective that even Sherlock Holmes and Hollywood counter-terrorist crime buster, Jack Bauer, will envy.

Like the legendary master detective, Sherlock Holmes, created by British author – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Kyari has a knack for solving difficult crimes through Intelligence-led policing.

His conquests of the most deadly underworld kingpins in Nigeria has earned him fame as well as honours from the people, the government, and organizations in and out of the country.

Kyari was decorated with the Presidential Medal for Courage by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 1, 2016.

That was the icing on the cake for the multiple-award-winning crime fighter who had three times won the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Commendation Medal for Courage in 2012, 2013, and 2014; a triple recipient of the Lagos State Governor’s award for Gallantry, Leadership and Service Excellence in 2011, 2012, and 2013; voted as the Best Police Officer of the Decade, and bagged the 2018 Hero of the Year Award from Silverbird Group.

Kyari was recently honored with an award of recognition and a standing ovation at the House of Representatives for his efforts at keeping Nigeria safe.

He had also won the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Commendation Award for Courage 2011, Best Anti-Crime Police Officer in West Africa from Security Watch Africa; Star Award from Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; Star Award for Outstanding Gallantry in Africa 2018 by Security Watch Africa, and emerged as Africa’s Best Detective of the Year in 2018.

Nigeria has been facing huge challenges from kidnappers, armed robbers and cattle rustlers who have killed hundreds of citizens and sowed panic across the nation. These crimes have kept Kyari and his teammates on their toes 24 hours, seven days a week. It has been a cause for which they are ready to die. It is a cause for which some members of the team have died.

If they are cast into a movie, the celebrated accomplishments of Kyari and his team could outrun the 192 episodes and eight seasons of Jack Bauer’s TV series titled ‘24’.

The Kyari-led IRT had arrested over 300 kidnappers who belonged to more than 20 gangs and recovered over 200 AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons used in terrorizing Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highways among several other victories across Nigeria.

The accomplishments included several covert operations of high profile cases now being prosecuted, such as the arrest of Nigeria’s most notorious billionaire kidnap kingpin – Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans and his boys in Lagos; the arrest of the killers of former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Air Marshal Alex Badeh along Keffi-Gitata Kaduna Road; arrest of the most wanted Boko-Haram Commander, Umar Abdulmalik, and eight members of his terrorist gang; arrest of 22 Boko-Haram terrorists responsible for the kidnap of the Chibok School Girls in 2014 and a series of suicide bombings, several attacks and ambush against security agents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The Kyari team also smashed the gang of a kidnapper regarded as the most deadly in the history of Nigeria, Henry Chibueze aka Vampire in Owerri, Imo State, they captured the brutal bank robbers that invaded Offa Town, Kwara State, robbed five commercial banks and murdered over 31 victims making it the deadliest bank robbery in the nation’s history.

Kyari and his team had arrested kidnappers who abducted a serving Assistant Comptroller of Customs in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, bust a syndicate of kidnappers, bandits and their sponsors in Zamfara State after the gang had kidnapped the twin sisters before their wedding.

The Kyari team captured the deadly armed robbers and murderers who escaped from lawful custody at SARS base in Lokoja, Kogi State and the kidnappers responsible for the abduction and murder of Mr. John Iheanacho, a staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and President of Eastern Zone Investment Cooperative Society Ltd, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Also on the list of achievements is the arrest of suspect responsible for the murder of Lieutenant Abubakar Yahaya Yusuf, a serving Naval Officer and his girlfriend Miss. Lorraine Onye in Rivers State; arrest of kidnappers who abducted two South Africans in Kaduna State; arrest of terrorists responsible for the bombing of Kuje and Nyanya Towns of Abuja and recovery of primed bombs in the FCT; arrest of deadly kidnappers responsible for the abduction of two Americans and two Canadians in Kaduna State; arrest of a notorious criminal who threatened to kill the former Vice-President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his family, and the arrest of the kidnappers of Nigerian elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, in Ondo State. The suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment in Ondo State High Court.

The team also smashed a gang of bandits responsible for the killing of several innocent persons in Benue and seized their operational weapons; arrested notorious arms dealer who specialized in selling arms to robbers, kidnappers in South-West and recovered over 50 arms and thousands of life ammunition.

There was also the celebrated case of Abiodun Egunjobi aka Godogodo, a most deadly armed robber who terrorized the South-West, killing over 500 victims, many of them police officers.

Kyari-led IRT captured the kidnappers of the Turkish school girls in Ogun, the kidnappers and murderers of Barrister Sherif Yazid along Abuja-Kaduna Express Road, the kidnap-kingpin in Kogi, Halti Bello and 20 members of his gang that terrorized the state and its environ for many years. They were held for the kidnap and murder of Istifanus Gurama, a senior staff of Dangote Group.

The team arrested the kidnappers and murderers of the 64-year-old Production Manager of Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, Mr. Ubani Onyema, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State; smashed the gang of an infamous assassin known as Ade Lawyer in the South-west. The assassin was linked to several killings in various parts of Lagos and South-western Nigeria.

There was the arrest of kidnappers of Isheri Landlords in Lagos State; arrest of the kidnappers of 80-year-old Chief Felix Ogbona in Aba, Abia State; arrest of assassins and masterminds who gruesomely murdered Mr. Uba Emmanuel aka ‘Onwa’ in Festac Town, Lagos; arrest of kidnappers responsible for the abduction of Dr. Alex Pepple in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State; arrest of the kidnappers of Ikorodu School Girls in Lagos; arrest of the kidnappers of CBN Governor’s wife in Delta State; arrest of the kidnappers of Ambassador Bagudu Hirse in Kaduna State; arrest of the kidnappers of Sierra-Leonian Deputy High Commissioner in Kaduna State; arrest of the kidnappers of the mother of former Minister of Finance, Okonjo Iweala in Delta State; arrest of Niger-Delta militants planning to bomb the Third Mainland bridge and recovery of arms and explosives in Lagos State; arrest of Niger Delta militants and notorious kidnappers along with the recovery of GPMG, AK-47 rifles and military grenades in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, and smashing of the gang that planned to kidnap Nigerian billionaire, Mr. Femi Otedola, in Lagos.

Also celebrated is the arrest of the kidnappers of Oniba of Iba, a first class traditional ruler in Lagos; the arrest of kidnappers of Hon. Sani Bello, the lawmaker who was representing Mashi Federal Constituency of Katsina State; arrest of armed robbers and militants who raided banks at Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac and Agbara in Ogun and Lagos; arrest of the kidnappers of the three Orekoya children in Lagos; arrest of the kidnappers of former Chairman of Ejigbo LGA in Lagos; arrest of killers of Oyo State member of House of Assembly, and the arrest of the kidnappers and killers of Reverend Father Adeyi in Otukpo Benue State, who were sentenced to death by Benue State High Court.

Kyari also smashed the gang of notorious kidnappers of Alhaji Salami in Abuja, arrested five suspected kidnappers of Channels Television Staff in Abuja; arrested the kidnappers of two ABTI American University of Nigeria female students in Abuja; arrested bandits who killed at Nimbo Community in Enugu; rescued the Magajin Garin Daura from kidnappers den in Kano and captured the 13 felons; arrested a Southwest kidnap-kingpin, Abubakar Moh’d aka Buba and members of his gang in Oyo State; arrested a bloody kidnapper in the Southwest, Abdullahi Abubakar aka Osama and his boys in Ekiti State; smashed the gang of Adamu Umoru aka Dabo, identified as a kingpin of kidnappers on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway who abducted Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud, the Chairman UBEC and killed his driver.

The IRT team smashed the gang of Usman Mohd that kidnapped the son of a former Minister of Health in Oyo State and was linked to other kidnappings in the Southwest; bust the kidnapping-gang of Tony Raphael aka ‘Chairman’ that terrorized Rivers State, and ended the reign of Abdullahi Sani’s gang that kidnapped the Mother-in-Law of Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari.

The Kyari team smashed the gang of Isa Abdullahi aka Biyi, held for several kidnappings and killings in Katsina State; arrested Gbenga Ojomo, described as the most notorious illegal arms and ammunition smuggler responsible for smuggling thousands of rifles and ammunition from Libya and Burkina-Faso into Nigeria; bust the gang of Sunday Abel aka School Boy that was reportedly terrorizing the Southeast and held for the kidnap and killing of a serving American soldier in Imo State and many other heinous crimes in the Southeast.

Kyari also ended the reign of Cajetan Otti’s gang of kidnappers terrorizing Abia State and recovered several AK-47 rifles; he smashed the gang of Divine Nmeni that was linked to several kidnappings and rape cases in Rivers State; arrested bandits who kidnapped four Turkish expatriates in Kwara State and rescued the victims; arrested 13 child traffickers operating in the North, South-South and South-eastern parts of Nigeria, and rescued six stolen children and handed over to their real parents.

Also smashed was a deadly 13-man gang of kidnappers led by Umar Abdullahi aka ‘Ore’ in Kujama LGA Kaduna State. They were linked to several killings and kidnappings along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway including the killing of Barr. Yazid Sheriff in 2017.

Kyari smashed the gang of Godwin Akura who specialized in robbing at ATM points. He recovered over 200 stolen ATM cards. He ended the reign of an 8-man armed robbery gang led by Nwafor Chibueze that was stealing expensive cars and using Jammers to disable tracking devices in the vehicles before conveying them to Niger Republic through Katsina State.

The IRT was also behind the arrest of Godspower Amadi and members of his 11-man gang of kidnappers that terrorized travelers on Port-Harcourt-Owerri Expressway; the arrest of unrepentant ex-convict and kidnap-kingpin Usman Mohammed aka Dogo who was charged to court several times and released. The bandit was linked to several kidnappings along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. He confessed to have killed over 50 victims.

The crime busters also smashed the kidnapping gang of Garba Yau that reportedly terrorized Southwestern Nigeria and held for kidnapping Pastor Segun Adeyanju in Ogbomosho, Oyo State and many other victims across the Southwest. The team bust a syndicate led by Haruna Saidu, an illegal arms dealer. Eleven AK-47 rifles and thousands of ammunition were recovered. The gang was allegedly responsible for supplying several AK-47 rifles to kidnappers and bandits in Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Sokoto states.

There was the arrest of 14 kidnappers terrorizing Adamawa and Taraba states with the recovery of several Ak-47 rifles, other weapons, charms and ammunition; the arrest of 32-year-old Abdullahi Mohammed and members of his 12-man gang of kidnappers operating on Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway, several AK-47 rifles were recovered, case under investigation; arrest of Mukailu Liman, 32, and other kidnappers linked with killings and kidnappings along Kaduna-Zaria Expressway on the January 14, 2020, during which the Emir of Potiskum narrowly escaped death while some of his aides were killed.

Kyari arrested Abdulazeez Amao, 53, and Okechukwu Nwadiogbu, 46, who were illegal arms dealers bringing assorted rifles and ammunition from Libya to Nigeria to sell to kidnappers and other criminals; he arrested 33-year-old Nwazuo Izima aka XX and 16 members of his gang who were described as notorious kidnappers in Abia, Imo and Enugu states. Several AK-47 rifles and victims vehicles were recovered from the gang.

He also smashed a 7-man gang of kidnappers led by 38-year-old Adetayo Adediran, held for kidnapping and killing of a Chinese citizen, Mr. Defa Song on February 17 in Ogun State; smashed gang of eight led by 26-year-old Onyedikachi Francis including a 33-year-old woman named Amarachi Udensi who were allegedly responsible for several kidnappings in Imo and Abia; arrested 30-year-old Ishak Khalid and 13 suspected members of Ansaru terrorists group responsible for kidnappings of expatriates and high profile citizens across the North-Western states of Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

The Kyari-led team has also been celebrated for smashing a kidnapping and assassins’ gang led by one Bashiri Musa operating in Kaduna State; the arrest of one Kelvin Uzor and members of his gang held for kidnapping and gruesome ritual killings in which the bodies of two 7-year-old identical twins were dismembered in Delta State; the arrest of those who kidnapped Alhaji Subaru, a businessman in Sokoto State and the recovery of over N10million ransom collected; the arrest of notorious Zakari Yau and his kidnapping gang in Kogi State, who at the peak of his criminal enterprise had over 500 armed men, several villages and territories under his control; several Ak-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the gang.

There was the arrest of Longjohn Franklin and members of his gang operating in Bayelsa State; the arrest of Ibrahim Salisu and other kidnappers terrorizing Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states, and the recovery of several AK-47 rifles and ammunition; the arrest of five bandits held for the gruesome murder of Colonel Samaila Yunusa – a serving Nigeria Army officer in Kaduna State; the smashing of a gang of armed robbers led by one Gambo Isa, who allegedly raided homes in Abuja metropolis for over five years and one AK-47 rifle was recovered from the gang; the arrest of those who kidnapped Sheik Ahmed Al-Gakani in Rigasa area of Kaduna State; and the arrest of Abdullahi Husseni aka Gide, a notorious arms dealer allegedly supplying rifles and ammunition to several gangs of kidnappers and bandits in Zamfara, Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states.

Kyari re-arrested the bloody Taraba State kidnap-kingpin, Hamisu Bala Wadume, and recovered several AK-47 rifles after he was rescued and released from the custody of IRT operatives two weeks earlier; he arrested another deadly kidnapper, Abubakar Usman aka Small Pepper and members of his gang operating in Delta and Edo states. He was on the most wanted list for more than five years. The police recovered from him several AK-47 rifles, ammunition and charms.

Also arrested were three brothers responsible for the kidnap and murder of a mother-of-five, Mrs. Janet Nnenna Ogbonnaya in Abuja. The brothers reportedly killed the woman they met via Facebook two years earlier, stole her car, changed the colour of the vehicle and dumped her body in a septic tank.

The Kyari-led team also smashed a gang of kidnappers, led by 30-year-old Mustapha Mohammed, considered as the deadliest in Northern Nigeria and held for kidnapping of the Catholic Seminarians in Kaduna, the killing of Seminarian Micheal Nnadi; the kidnapping of Dr. Philip Ataga’s wife and two daughters, before killing his wife who heroically refused to be raped before releasing the two daughters after collecting ransom. The gang also kidnapped six students and two teachers of Engravers College in Kaduna State among other crimes.

Kyari also recorded huge successes in his war against armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in Lagos State during his five years as the Officer-in-Charge of SARS from 2010-2015.