Afolabi assumes duty as 35th Abia Commissioner of Police

By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

UMUAHIA — The Abia State Police Command has welcomed a new Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, who has assumed duty as the 35th Commissioner of Police in the state.

Afolabi takes over from AIG Danladi Isa, who was promoted and redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Annex, Kaduna.

In a statement issued on August 10, 2026, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, described the new commissioner as a seasoned police officer with more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.

Afolabi joined the force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on May 18, 1992, and has served in various strategic command, operational, administrative and international policing positions.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from the University of Ilorin, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master’s degree in Peace and Security Studies from the University of Port Harcourt.

His professional training includes the Strategic Leadership and Command Course at the National Institute of Police Studies, Abuja; Tactical Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; Internal Security/Low Intensity Conflict Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; and Peacekeeping Negotiation Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana.

Afolabi also has extensive international policing experience.

Between 2004 and 2005, he served as pioneer Sector Commander of Sector 2, Nyala, and pioneer Regional Commander of Southern Darfur under the African Union Mission in Sudan.

During the assignment, he helped establish operational and administrative structures, set up police stations in internally displaced persons’ camps and coordinated civil police activities.

Earlier, between 2001 and 2002, he served as Nigeria Contingent Commander and Special Response Unit Officer under the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he contributed to law enforcement reforms, system analysis and training programmes for local police personnel.

Before his deployment to Abia, Afolabi served as Commissioner of Police, Administration, Training and Development, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He had also served as Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, where he coordinated administrative and operational activities, strengthened intelligence gathering, improved investigative efficiency and promoted community policing initiatives.

He also served as Commissioner of Police, Force Equitation Officer, Mounted Troop, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, supervising mounted police operations and ensuring operational readiness and professionalism in crowd control and ceremonial duties.

Between 2021 and 2023, Afolabi served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Delta State Command; DCP, Criminal Investigation Department, Katsina State Command; and DCP, Operations, Bayelsa State Command.

As DCP Administration in Delta, he handled high-level administrative responsibilities and enforcement of police regulations. In Katsina, he coordinated criminal investigations, while in Bayelsa, he planned and supervised crime prevention and operational activities across the state.

Between 2016 and 2021, he served in various capacities, including Area Commander in Anambra State Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Imo State Command, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, Abuja.

From 2014 to 2016, Afolabi served as a Divisional Police Officer in several divisions within the Federal Capital Territory before becoming a Directing Staff at the Police Staff College, Jos, where he trained and mentored senior police officers.

His career also includes service as Sector Commander and Second-in-Command in Joint Task Force operations in Warri, Staff Officer at the Force Headquarters and Unit Commander of the Police Mobile Force in Plateau State, where he participated in specialised policing operations.

Afolabi has undertaken several national and international assignments, including serving among the first Nigerian police officers deployed to the African Union Mission in Darfur.

He was also the last Contingent Commander of the Nigeria Police Team to the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and served as Aide-de-Camp to visiting Heads of State.

He participated in the organisation of major international events, including the All African Games and Commonwealth Summit.

Afolabi is a Fellow of the Peace and Security Studies Department of the University of Port Harcourt and a Justice of the Peace.

The Command described him as a disciplined, strategic and result-oriented police officer whose career reflects a commitment to public safety, professional excellence and international policing standards.

It called on stakeholders, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations and members of the public to extend their cooperation to the new commissioner as he begins his tenure.

According to the Command, such cooperation would be critical to Afolabi’s efforts to strengthen security, improve policing and safeguard lives and property across Abia State.

Afolabi is married with children. His hobbies include travelling and reading.

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