NEWS
CP Wilfred Afolabi Assumes Duty as 35th Abia Police Commissioner
The Abia State Police Command has welcomed a new Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, who has assumed duty as the 35th Commissioner of Police of the state.
Afolabi takes over from AIG Danladi Isa, who has been promoted and redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Kaduna.
The new Abia police commissioner is a seasoned officer of the Nigeria Police Force with more than three decades of distinguished service, marked by professionalism, discipline, leadership and dedication to duty.
He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on May 18, 1992, and has since risen through various command, operational, administrative and international assignments.
CP Afolabi holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Botany from the University of Ilorin, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master’s degree in Peace and Security Studies from the University of Port Harcourt.
His professional training includes the Strategic Leadership and Command Course at the National Institute of Police Studies, Abuja; Tactical Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; Internal Security/Low Intensity Conflict Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; and Peacekeeping Negotiation Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
Afolabi’s career also includes significant international policing responsibilities.
Between 2004 and 2005, he served as the Pioneer Sector Commander of Sector 2 Nyala and Pioneer Regional Commander of Southern Darfur under the African Union Mission in Sudan. During the assignment, he played a key role in establishing operational and administrative structures, setting up police stations in internally displaced persons camps and coordinating civil police activities.
Earlier, between 2001 and 2002, he served as Nigeria Contingent Commander and Special Response Unit Officer under the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In that capacity, he contributed to law enforcement reforms, system analysis and the development of training programmes for local police personnel.
Before his latest posting to Abia, CP Afolabi served as Commissioner of Police, Administration, Training and Development at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He previously served as Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, where he coordinated administrative and operational activities, strengthened intelligence networks, improved investigative efficiency and promoted community policing initiatives aimed at enhancing public trust.
He also served as Force Equitation Officer, Mounted Troop, at Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he oversaw mounted police operations, ensured operational readiness and maintained professional standards in crowd control and ceremonial duties.
Between 2021 and 2023, Afolabi served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, in Delta State Command, where he handled high-level administrative responsibilities and ensured compliance with police regulations.
He also served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, in Katsina State Command, coordinating criminal investigations and enforcing crime-prevention directives.
As Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, in Bayelsa State Command, he was responsible for planning and executing crime-prevention strategies and operational activities across the state.
Between 2016 and 2021, Afolabi served as Area Commander in Anambra State Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, in Imo State Command, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, in Abuja.
From 2014 to 2016, he served as Divisional Police Officer in several divisions within Abuja and also worked as a Directing Staff at the Police Staff College, Jos, where he trained and mentored senior police officers.
His operational experience further includes service as Sector Commander and Second-in-Command in Joint Task Force operations in Warri, Staff Officer at Force Headquarters and Unit Commander of the Police Mobile Force in Plateau State.
Across these assignments, he was involved in combat operations, riot control, crime prevention and other specialised policing responsibilities.
Beyond his regular command responsibilities, CP Afolabi has participated in several major national and international assignments.
He was among the first Nigerian police officers deployed to the African Union Mission in Sudan’s Darfur region and later served as the last Contingent Commander of the Nigeria Police Team to the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also served as an Aide-De-Camp to visiting Heads of State and participated in the organisation of major international events, including the All African Games and the Commonwealth Summit.
Afolabi is a Fellow of the Peace and Security Studies Department of the University of Port Harcourt and a Justice of the Peace.
Married with children, the new Abia police commissioner lists travelling and reading among his hobbies.
With his extensive experience in command, intelligence, criminal investigation, administration, training, peacekeeping and international policing, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi brings more than three decades of professional policing experience to the Abia State Command.
The Abia State Police Command is seeking the cooperation and support of stakeholders and members of the public as the new commissioner begins his tenure, with the objective of strengthening public safety, se
curity and effective policing across the state.