FIC Report (Bayelsa State) – The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 16, covering Rivers and Bayelsa states, Johnson Adenola, has officially retired from the Nigeria Police Force after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60, declaring that he leaves the force with “no regrets” despite the enormous challenges of policing in Nigeria.
Adenola made the remarks during an emotional send-forth ceremony held in Yenagoa and jointly organised by the Rivers and Bayelsa State Police Commands in honour of his 34 years of service to the nation.
The retired police chief, who joined the force in 1992, reflected on decades of service across different parts of Nigeria and international assignments, urging officers and men of the force to remain courageous, disciplined and committed to duty.
According to him, dedication and integrity remain the true foundations of a successful policing career.
“Like life itself, the police is largely what one makes of it. Indolence carries a curse while dedication, discipline and integrity yield lasting rewards,” Adenola stated.
He stressed that Nigerian police officers possess the competence and bravery to compete with their counterparts globally if given adequate institutional support, funding and modern equipment.
Drawing from his international policing experience, the retired AIG said Nigerian officers had, on several occasions, led multinational security teams despite operating under difficult conditions at home.
“We have worked alongside officers from more developed and technologically advanced countries. On multiple occasions, Nigerian officers served as team leaders, with foreign colleagues under our command,” he said.
He lamented what he described as the persistent negative perception of the Nigerian Police Force, insisting that the problem lies more with inadequate resources than personnel quality.
“The disparity lies not in the quality of our personnel, but in the adequacy of resources and institutional support,” he added while calling on all levels of government to increase support for security agencies.
Adenola highlighted major reforms and achievements recorded during his nine-month tenure in Zone 16, including efforts to restore discipline and public confidence within the command.
He disclosed that 61 officers with questionable service records were redeployed from the zonal headquarters, while another 73 officers were reassigned after overstaying at their duty posts.
One of his landmark achievements, according to him, was securing land for the construction of a permanent zonal headquarters along Bayelsa Palm Road in Yenagoa.
He expressed gratitude to Douye Diri for approving and allocating 10.07 hectares of land for the project.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioners of Police for Bayelsa and Rivers states, Daniel Iyama Edebor and Olugbenga Adepoju, praised Adenola for what they described as his passionate, disciplined and selfless service to the force.
Edebor said the large turnout of senior officers and members of the public at the ceremony reflected the deep respect Adenola earned throughout his career.
Adepoju, on his part, said the outgoing AIG brought peace, discipline and stability to the zone, adding that his departure would leave a huge vacuum in the commands.
Ighovojah Gloria Afure
Senior Information Officer
FIC Yenegoa, Bayelsa
6th May 2026
