By: Abdullahi Inuwa
In every state, there are public officers whose presence goes beyond routine duty, leaving a mark on the lives of people they serve. In Akwa Ibom, Commissioner of Police Baba Mohammed Azare has emerged as such a figure—an officer whose leadership is reshaping security and restoring trust in the Force.
Since assuming command, CP Azare has become synonymous with discipline, innovation, and results. To the criminals, his name signals trouble. To the people, it represents reassurance. And to his officers, it is a reminder that the badge they wear must always stand for integrity.
Soft-spoken but firm, CP Azare is the kind of leader who carries authority without arrogance. His career in the Nigeria Police Force spans decades of service in different commands, each chapter sharpening his skills and preparing him for greater responsibility. Those who know him describe him as a man who thrives on challenges—one who sees every assignment as an opportunity to serve with honor.
He believes that policing is not just a job, but a calling. “The badge is a promise to protect,” he once said during a parade at the command headquarters. “If we betray that promise, we lose the trust of the people we swore to defend.”
Under his leadership, Akwa Ibom Police Command has recorded remarkable progress in combating crime. His strategy is rooted in intelligence gathering, rapid response, and proactive policing. Whether it is armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, or vandalism of critical infrastructure, CP Azare has ensured that his men move swiftly, often apprehending suspects within hours of reported incidents.
A striking example came recently when a patrol team, acting on intelligence, recovered a vandalized telecommunications mast and arrested the suspect. Such successes, while routine under his watch, send a powerful message—that crime has no hiding place in Akwa Ibom.
Unlike many who view policing as force-driven, CP Azare sees it as partnership-driven. He is a strong believer in community policing, where citizens and security agencies work hand in hand. In villages and towns across Akwa Ibom, he has met with traditional rulers, youth groups, and religious leaders, urging them to see themselves as stakeholders in security.
That outreach has paid off. Intelligence shared by communities has led to breakthroughs in dismantling criminal syndicates. More importantly, it has rekindled trust between the people and the police—a trust that had long been eroded.
Inside the Force, CP Azare is uncompromising about discipline. He insists that officers must uphold professionalism and respect for human rights. Those who fall short face sanctions, while those who excel are rewarded. His philosophy is simple: the police must first earn respect within their ranks before they can command respect outside.
This commitment to internal reform has begun to reflect in public perception. Increasingly, residents of Akwa Ibom report cases to the police without fear of intimidation or neglect, confident that they will be treated with fairness.
CP Azare has also distinguished himself by maintaining a transparent relationship with the media. Regular press briefings have become the norm, where he shares updates, crime statistics, and safety tips. His clear, direct communication style leaves no room for ambiguity: the police are working, the people are partners, and criminals are unwelcome.
But for CP Azare, policing is not just about responding to today’s crimes—it is about preventing tomorrow’s. He has launched sensitization programs targeting youths, warning them against cultism, drug abuse, and cybercrime. By engaging schools and communities, he is addressing the roots of insecurity, not just its symptoms.
His vision is bold yet achievable: to make Akwa Ibom one of the safest states in Nigeria, where people can live, work, and invest without fear. To this end, he is exploring technological tools, inter-agency collaborations, and smarter policing strategies.
In a nation where confidence in institutions often wavers, CP Baba Mohammed Azare is proving that leadership anchored on integrity and service can restore faith. He is more than a Commissioner of Police; he is a guardian, a reformer, and a symbol of what is possible when commitment meets courage.
For Akwa Ibom, his tenure represents more than a phase in policing—it is a turning point. A future where safety is not a privilege but a right; where the police are not feared, but trusted; and where law and order are not abstract ideals, but daily realities.
As one resident of Uyo put it: “We finally have a Commissioner who is not only tough on criminals but also kind to the people.”
In CP Baba Mohammed Azare, Akwa Ibom has found not just a police chief, but a true custodian of peace.
Abdullahi Inuwa
Social Commentator
ainuwa303@gmail.com
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