Former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has recounted an unforgettable day during his tenure as Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command — when he was mistakenly “arrested” by his own men on duty.
In a post shared on his official X account, Abubakar revealed that the incident happened on a Saturday morning. Determined to start work early, he drove through Herbert Macaulay Way to personally inspect officers at various checkpoints.
At one stop, a constable flagged down his Jeep and, suspecting it was “his father’s vehicle,” demanded his particulars and identity card. The CP, who introduced himself simply as “Mohammed,” playfully asked the officer to produce his own ID first — which the constable didn’t have.
The encounter escalated when a sergeant joined in and insisted on taking him to the Yaba (Panti) Police Station. On arrival, Abubakar parked in the Divisional Police Officer’s (DPO) reserved spot, drawing more protests from the unsuspecting officers.
Inside the station, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), dressed in shorts, tried to order him in. When Abubakar refused to obey a non-uniformed officer, a scuffle ensued. It was only when an elderly man recognized the CP’s photograph on the DPO’s office wall that the truth emerged — the policemen had unknowingly brought in their boss.
“The ASP in shorts jumped out through a window, and the sergeant’s face dropped instantly,” Abubakar recalled.
Soon after, the Area Commander informed him that the DPO, ASP, and those involved were already in the cell, awaiting his decision.
Although he had earlier warned the same station about their conduct, Abubakar chose mercy over punishment. “By Monday, over 100 families came to my office crying and begging,” he said. “I realized that dismissing one officer meant affecting thirty families. So I didn’t dismiss any of them.”
Reflecting on the episode, the former IGP concluded: “Leadership is not always about punishment. Sometimes, mercy speaks louder — and teaches a deeper lesson.”
Source: @MrAbuSidiq
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