By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Newly posted Commissioner of Police to Delta State, Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi, on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, resumed duty as the 22nd Commissioner of Police of the Delta State Police Command.
Recall that the new CP is taking over from the former Commissioner of Police now AIG Wale Abass, who has been transferred to the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.
CP Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi was born on the 22nd of February 1966 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. M.A.R Abaniwonda. He hails from Epe LGA of Lagos State. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History in 1987, and a Master of Arts in Economics History, both from the prestigious University of Lagos in 1990.
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a member of Cadet ASP Course 17 on the 18th of March 1992. He attended the elite Police Academy Kaduna, and upon completion of training in the academy, was posted to Kogi State Police Command as a young Assistant Superintendent of Police in November 1995.
He has served in various capacities in the Police Force as follows; 2 I/C Squadron Commander Police Mobile force (21PMF) in Jos between 1996. He also served as Squadron Commander at MOPOL 8 Jos between 2002-2005. 2005 – 2014, he served as Divisional Police Officer at Kubwa Division, Gwarinpa Division, Karmo, Division, Lugbe Division, Garki Division, and Karshi Division and also the CSP DOPS FCT Police Command.
As a trained officer of international standards, he was deployed for Peace Keeping Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000, and was also in 2008 seconded as the Training Adviser at the United Nations’ Integrated Office in Sierra Leone.(UNIOSIL).
In 2015 he was posted to the Gwagwalada Area Command as the Area Commander, and in 2017 he was transferred to Oyo State Command as the Area Commander Oyo Area Command. Upon his promotion to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, he was tasked with the administrative duty at the Department of Operations Force Headquarters Abuja. Afterwards, he was transfered to Kogi state Command as the Deputy Commissioner of Police State Criminal Investigation Department.
He is the immediate past Deputy Force Secretary at Force headquarters Abuja. He was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police in June 1, 2023 and deployed to Delta State as the 22nd Commissioner of Police of Delta State Command.
During the course of his service, he has attended the following courses:
i. Traffic Management Course, Police College Ikeja, November 1995
ii. Combat Operation Course, PMF Training School, Gwoza, April 2000
iii. APC Conversion Course, PMF Training School, Gwoza, March 2001
iv. Formed Unit Training, PMF Training School, Gwoza, July 2006
v. Induction Course at Police Staff College Jos (2005)
vi. Tactical Leadership and Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos, June 2008
vii. Strategic Leadership and Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos, November 2019.
He is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).
CP Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi, is highly disciplined, detribalized officer; and has attended so many workshops and seminars both home and abroad.
His hobbies includes reading books, and sports. CP Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi is happily married and blessed with children.
While taking over from the out gone CP, the incoming CP promised to build on existing security mechanisms in place towards enthroning the reign of peace and safety in Delta State.
He advised the public to always cooperate with the Police and other security agencies at all times, while tasking the youths not to allow themselves to be used as for any act of criminality.
In his handing over remarks, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, AIG. Wale Abass thanked the State Government and the people of the State for their cooperation while he was in-charge of the Command and urged them to extend the same cooperation to his successor.
CP. Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi while addressing the press assures Deltans, residents and non-residents that the Command under his leadership will ensure that the State become uncomfortable for criminals.