“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.” — Unknown
This write-up about the life and times of Alhaji Tafa Adebayo Balogun, CFR, NPM,fwc, Oluomo of Igbominaland, a seasoned Police Officer, combatant Inspector General of Police, radiant administrator, brilliant lawyer, humble and benevolent citizen of Nigeria. A very dynamic, dutiful, energetic and resourceful man of vision; is to remind us not to think of death as a final goodbye.
Instead, it encourages us to cherish the fond memories we have of our loved ones so as to keep them alive within us.
It also urges us to never let go of hope – hope that we will soon find joy and smiles where now we have anguish and tears.
Born in Ila-Orangun Osun State of Nigeria on the 25th August, 1947. IGP Tafa Adebayo Balogun (Rtd) started his early primary education in AnsarUdeen Primary School Oke-Ola, Ila-Orangun in 1954. He finished as one of the pioneer products of the school in 1959. Thereafter, he moved to Anglican Grammar School, Otan Ayegbaju in 1960 and passed his West African School Certificate Examination in 1964 in a flying colour.
He worked briefly as a teacher in the now defunct Ila Local Authority Secondary Modern School in 1965, Tafa Balogun moved to Ibadan, the Western Regional capital in December, 1965. He served the Western Region of Nigeria as a Produce Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture until September, 1968.
Balogun sat for and passed three papers in the GCE Advanced Level which qualified him for a direct entry into the University of Lagos in 1968. Between 1968 and June 1971, he was a student of the University and he brilliantly graduated with Honours degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Political Science in the Faculty of Social Sciences in June, 1971.
After his graduation, he worked briefly as an Assistant Secretary in the Administrative Cadre of the Western State Civil Service between 1971 and 1973. During the period, he successfully passed the confirmation papers of 5 subjects with DISTINCTION. His brilliant output was duly appreciated by the Civil Service Commission and this won him a Letter of Commendation which was personally signed by the then Head of Western State Civil Service, Chief Peter T. Odumosu.
IGP Tafa Balogun (Rtd.) moved from the Civil Service to the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent in 1973. After a-one-year intensive training in Advanced and Superior Police Officers’ wings of the Police College, he also distinguished himself by coming FIRST in a class of many. Again, his brilliance made him to win the Inspector General’s Sword of Honour awarded to him for being the Best All Round Cadet Assistant Superintendent of his course by the then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Kam Salem at a colourful passing out parade in May 1974.
While in the Police Force, he served at various times as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in various places. He was at a time, Officer-in-charge, Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Panti and Member, Lagos State Armed Robbery Tribunal-a judicial function together with a High Court Judge and top Military Officers of the Nigerian Army.
At a stage in his career, he was appointed Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the then Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M.A. Gambo, thereby becoming the First Principal Staff Officer in the Nigeria Police Force. Concerned about the wave of crime in the then Bendel State, in 1990, he was moved in as Deputy Commissioner of Police of the command and with the Commissioner of police, the duo accomplished the task of arresting the crime situation in the State then with their Operation Flush.
Law programme
At another stage in his career between 1984 and 1989, he went back to the University of Lagos to read Law – this time as evening class student. On completion, he bagged the Honours Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB) and topped the class in Second Class Upper Division commonly called 2-1. His colleagues on the Law Programme usually called him “C.J.” (meaning Chief Justice) due to his wonderful performance during the Law Course. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School in Lagos in 1990 and after a-one-year programme of intensive studies, he was called to the Nigeria Bar with the award of BL – thus becoming a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
With the creation of Delta State in 1991, he became the Commissioner of Police, Delta State from 1991 to 1993. There, he introduced Operation Blast between 1993 and 1994. Tafa Balogun was transferred to Rivers State as Commissioner of Police (the present day combination of Rivers and Bayelsa States). Where he introduced Operation Crush. He was also Commissioner of Police, Abia State from 1994 to 1996. He used Operation Heat to deal a severe blow on armed banditry in Abia State and from there he moved up and became Force Secretary (from 1996 to 1998) at the Force Headquarters KAM SALEM House, Lagos.
Between 1998 and 1999, Tafa Balogun, then a Commissioner of Police attended the most prestigious and highest Military Institution in Nigeria, The Nigeria War College along with top Military (Army, Navy and Airforce) officers. Once again, he performed outstandingly well by coming First with his Research Project, adjudged which was the best in Form, Quality and Contents. For this he won the Commandant’s Award with complimentary nostalgic gift as a mark of honour.
In 1999, Tafa Balogun was promoted to the enviable rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1 (Kano, Kaduna, Kastina & Jigawa) States. While in Zone 1, Kano, he succeeded in checkmating the menace of Ethnic clashes that had hitherto consumed lives of innocent citizens. During his official sojourn in Kana the disturbing menaces of Ethnic clashes became a thing of the past.
APPOINTMENT AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
From the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), he was promoted Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria on March, 2002. He served Nigeria as one of its indigenous Inspector General of Police from March 2002 – March 2005.
As an Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun had a wonderful career. With his colleagues, he was able to control the menace of Armed Robbery in Nigeria through the instrumentality of Operation “Fire for Fire” that won the admiration of the nation. Needless to remind us that he even took the fight against armed anditry across the Nigerian border by facilitating the arrest of one AhmaduTidjani, who was discovered to be sponsoring armed robberies in Nigeria from his base in Republic of Benin. By Tidjani’s arrest, the entire nation was proud of having a Police Force that could perform this feat.
He was architect of Community Policing concept in Nigeria – a project that had worked wonderfully well in Britain, United States of America, Australia, Canada, etc.
Also as IGP, he touched the lives of several hundreds of thousands of policemen by promotion – elevation to higher ranks – as at when due – in what has today been tagged: promotion revolution (second to non in the police force). He was generally christened “Father of Promotion” by the entire Police Force. For a long time to come Tafa Balogun would be remembered with a loud applause by the entire members of the Nigeria Police Force.
WOMEN MOBILE POLICE
Tafa Balogun is very gender fair and friendly. It was this aspect of his nature that produced Nigeria Women Mobile Police concept. Thus, it was during his tenure that Women Police were formed into Women Mobile Police for the first time in Nigeria – a concept that was designed to attend to women and children protesters instead of men engaging women and children (civilians) in event of civil protests and demonstration. Perhaps it is not out of place to say that Nigeria became the first nation in the world to start the policy which has been adopted by other countries, even by the developed nations.
WEST AFRICA
In the year 2004, Tafa Balogun then as Nigerian Inspector General of Police and due to his outstanding qualities was elected by all the Chiefs of Police of West African countries of Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote de Voire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal and others as President of West African Police Inspector General and Chiefs of Police. He then became the Technical Head of West African Policing.
NATIONAL AWARD
In the year 2003 he was awarded the prestigious National Honour of Commander of Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
PROFESSIONAL COURSES ATTENDED
While in the Nigeria Police Force from he attended several courses, a few of which are:
1. Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police Course
2. A Course for Officers at Staff College Jos
3. Course for Officers at Staff College Jos
4. Course for Officers at Staff College Jos
5. Management Course at Durham Constabulary in England.
6. Professional Seminar on Policing in Algeria
7. United States of America – Courses in Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago, etc.
8. National War College Abuja now Defence College (highest military institution in Nigeria) and
9. University of Ibadan course on strategic studies.
PROFESSIONAL PRIZES/AWARDS WON
1. Inspector General of Police Sword of Honour – for being the best all-round Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Graduate Officer Course 3 – Prize presented by the former IGP Alhaji Kam Salem.
2. National War College Commandments Award for Excellence – War College best award for outstanding performance and best Research project of the year 1989-1999 (Course 7).
3. Nigeria Police Medal (NPM) – An award for outstanding display of professionalism.
4. Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) – An honour by Nigerian Government 2003.
5. Award by Canadian Police authorities for commanding the biggest Police Force in the world.
COMMENDATIONS
During his career as a distinguished Police Officer, he won the commendation of four Inspectors General of Police before him – a very rare performance.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS OF MR. TAFA BALOGUN
1. Bachelors of Science Honours degree in Political Science from University of Lagos – June 1971.
2. Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honours degree with 2nd Class Upper Division (2.1) from the University of Lagos – June 1989.
3. BL (Honours) – Nigerian Law School – 1990.
4. Masters of Science (M.Sc) degree of University of Ibadan in Strategic Studies – 2000.
5. Fellow of Nigerian War College (FWC) – National War College Abuja. 1999. He has written many academic papers some of which are:
i. Natural interest as prerequisite for Natural Survival
ii. War Crime Trials – A Synopsis
iii. The Increasing Restlessness in Nigeria Oil Producing Areas
iv. Politics and Rule of Law – Challenges of Policing Nigeria in a Democracy
v. Nationalization of British Petroleum in Nigeria – Gains and Losses
vi. Police and Management of Internal Security in Nigeria – An Appraisal
vii. Crime Wave and Adolescence in Nigeria.
THE ENEMIES STRUCK
Quite disturbed by his intimidating profile as briefly stated herein, the enemies and detractors struck in 2005. Determined to put an end to his ever rising profile, his enemies, in what looked like Police version of Coup-detat, supported by some powerful enemy forces around high places descended heavily on him, bringing up frivolous accusations and charges. They brutalized, persecuted and in display of unguarded terrorism, thriew him down in what was seen as an “assassination attempt”. On that occasion Tafa Balogun was quoted as saying:
“This is not prosecution but Persecution. This is nothing but a manifestation of personal vendetta. This is a case of conviction before trail”.
The enemy forces and their powerful back-up incarcerated him, here and there in their witch-hunting and vindictive fault finding mission. At the height of the travails, Tafa Balogun again was quoted as saying:
“Life is a galloping equation.
Life is ever fluctuating
Today you are up
Tomorrow you are forced down
By the Special Grace of God, I will bounce back”.
Like the Biblical Joseph or the Koranic Yusuf, Tafa Balogun survived all the man-made ordeals, trails and tribulations. Thank God he did not die at the hands of the enemy forces. God did for him what He did to the Biblical Job or the Koranic Ayuba. He was no doubt “bounced back” and that explained why among others, he was celebrated by all Igbominas at home (Osun and Kwara States) and in diaspora and was installed as Oluomo of Igbominaland on 21 November, 2020.
The gallant operational police officer passed away 4th August, 2022 after a brief illness.
He was survived by his wife Olufunke, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces.
Reference: Ila-Orangun Facts and Figures, Published by Igbomina Today, Editor-in-Chief: Omotayo Babalola,
