Rtd CP Olayinka Balogun Ph.D/
Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Dickens Sanomi died 20 years ago, but his impact on and contributions to my life remains indelible. Some aspects are worth recounting.
In 1979, I was posted to Plateau State as a Youth Corps member. After the One Month Orientation at the Government Science Secondary School, Kuru, I was posted to Government Teachers’ College, Jengre, on the outskirts of Jos. When I got there, the Principal rejected me on the excuse that the school had no accommodation to give me, having exhausted the spaces on earlier Corps members.
I went back to the NYSC office where I was given another Letter to Government Secondary School, Mangu.
Again, for some other logistic problems, I could not access the venue. So, for the third time in two days I went back to NYSC office to tell another story. This time, the officials obviously getting impatient simply told me: “Young man go to town and look for any establishment that can take you and come for another letter for the place.” A hard choice and hard luck really.
However, during the orientation period, any time we went to Jos Metropolis, my attention was always drawn to the beautiful imperial-looking gate with the inscription “Police Staff College, Jos”.
After an initial hesitation, I decided to try the place. From the gate, I went to the Quarter Guard and asked to see the Admin Officer. I was directed to the main office block about 200 meters away. As I was about climbing the staircase, a police officer was also descending. So, I moved aside, greeted him and asked him to kindly direct me to the College Admin Officer. I was in my NYSC uniform. He studied me briefly and waved me on after showing me the way.
I went up and met another officer. As I was about explaining my mission, l noticed that the officer I met earlier downstairs was right behind me. He followed me after directing me upstairs. After narrating my story, the two of them surprised me in their next move. They must have communicated with their eyes since I was backing one of them. The Admin Officer collected my letter, instantly; accepted me to serve at the College and gave me another letter to take to the NYSC Office. Just like that! It was a Friday. The next magic they performed was to direct that I should be given accommodation in the Cadets Hostel (where I later met some Course 8 Cadets like J Udah, Aminu Yesufu, Belel, Okebukola, J Idabor, Uzor Amakulor, and a host of others. Thus, I started my destined journey and career in the Police.
The officer that I met downstairs later turned out to be Mr. Sampson Bamigbade, then a CSP; the Admin Officer was Dickens Sanomi, also a CSP. I was meeting the two of them for the first time in my life that Friday July 1979. It was like a dream. I was later to discover that the two of them were like twins, extremely close friends from their days as Cadet Inspectors.
On Monday l reported at the office of Mr Sanomi who took me to the Deputy Commandant, Alhaji Aliyu Atta (later IGP), who in turn followed us to the Commandant, Mr Fidelis Oyakhilome (Iater DIG). Thus, I started my primary assignment under the mentorship of the two Guardian Angels – Sanomi and Bamigbade, with Sanomi always treating me as his lost and found blood brother.
I was totally absorbed into the two families. Their wives also took me as their son and I became a big uncle to their children. And in later years, they handled my children as their own grand children with genuine parental care and concern. It has remained so till today.
The highest point of their show of love and interest in my affairs came when Mr Sanomi called me to his office one day with Mr Bamigbade already there. They were always together, and Sanomi informed me that they had already obtained the Cadet Officers Entrance Form for me to join the Nigeria Police. I was dumbfounded. Although I got two other job offers towards the end of the service. Good old days. I left one to go for the Police Interview as a deep honour and appreciation to these rare human beings.
Over the years they dotted on me in all sense of it. I got closer to Sanomi because he was more outwardly friendly, jovial and easily approachable. Bamigbade was more reticent, reserved and Englishman like. Course 9 members of 1980/81 will attest to this.
I, however, enjoyed the two Worlds and benefitted immensely from the two of them.
When, along the journey through this hazardous life, I lost my first wife in Enugu in 1990, it was Sanomi, based on their decision, who took me to his Command in Imo; and when he was moved to the newly created Abia State in 1991, he prevailed on IGP Attah to allow him take me along. It was such a heaven-tailored care and concern.
Sanomi was a highly cerebral officer, jovial, accommodating and thoroughly professional. When he died, Bamigbade was completely shattered and broken. Looking at him during and after the burial on that day, I knew he lost a bosom twin brother. He was totally inconsolable, and I dare say he has not fully recovered till date. Sanomi was a rare gem indeed. May his gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace and may God condole his equally accommodating wife. Chief Mrs Mabel Iyabo Sanomi. She should be consoled by the dual facts that the husband left a good name and the children are doing extremely well in their various fields of endeavour.
May the soul of my Mentor, Role Model and Counselor par Excellence continue to rest in peace. Twenty years like yesterday. How time flies!
CP Olayinka Balogun Rtd, psc, fsi. BL. Ph.D
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