By Abubakar Imam

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, a distinguished son of Ilorin, Mr Garba Salman-Dogo, was deservedly elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police by the Police Service Commission.

By this elevation, Mr Salman-Dogo, who is from the Pakata area of Ilorin, has become the sixth Assistant Inspector-General of Police produced by the Ilorin Emirate.

Those who preceded him were Alhaji Yissa Ojibara, a member of the famous Ojibara family of Oke-Apomu, Ilorin, who is the first. Alhaji Ojibara retired gloriously in 1999.The second to emerge as AIG from the Ilorin Emirate was the late Mr J. O. Morenike (1952-2021),who hailed from Bode-Saadu and retired in 2012, while the easy-going Alhaji Baba Adisa Bolanta, who is from Bolanta area, Ilorin, is the third. Alhaji Bolanta retired in 2016.

The other two gentlemen who attained the enviable rank before their subsequent retirement from the Nigeria Police Force are Alhaji Babatunde Ishola Babaita, who hails from the famous Babaita Compound, Alore, Ilorin; and, of course, Alhaji Yekini Ayoku, who is from Ile Arinle in Agbeyangi, Ilorin East Local Government Area, from where my mother also hails. While Alhaji Babaita retired in 2023, Alhaji Ayoku did in 2024.

It is significant to say that all these gentlemen attained the glorious rank during the reign of the incumbent Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR. They can also be said to be among the frontliners produced by Ilorin Emirate during the prosperous reign of the retired jurist who, himself, mounted the throne of his illustrious forebears in 1995.

Prior to his elevation, Mr Salman-Dogo was the 46th Police Commissioner who headed the Kano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.

In Kano, Mr Salman-Dogo gave a very good account of himself as he left no stone unturned at ensuring that Kano State was very peaceful throughout his tenure. This has been his lot right from time as he is known as a versatile and no-nonsense crime fighter.

I grew up to know the new AIG as one of the highly determined senior compatriots who were not only focused on acquiring qualitative education and attaining professional excellence but were also encouraging younger ones to be the best they could.

Mr Salman-Dogo is also a man of conviction. He is also a very focused gentleman who always pursued his goals with faith and precision.

His several personal qualities became more clearer and admirable to me in 2018 or thereabout when he hosted yours sincerely and several other compatriots who were in the “Emporium of Northern Nigeria” for a social event. The way he committed himself and his personal resources to ensure that we enjoyed our stay in the city of Kano remains glowingly stimulating to me. That was several years before he became a Police Commissioner.

Mr Salman-Dogo, a trained teacher, library scientist and seasoned police officer, was born in the historic city of Ilorin, “the abode of saints, scholars and soldiers”, on July 21, 1966. His late father, Alhaji Salman Dogo Onikanhun, was a distinguished businessman and selfless community leader, who was the founding President of Pakata Area Development Association (PADA); while his late mother was Alhaja Zarah Dogo, a daughter of Elelubo family, near Pakata Roundabout, Ilorin.

In 1972, this exemplary officer was enrolled as a pupil of the famous Barakat LSMB School, Oke-Pakata, Ilorin, where he was educated till 1978. He proceeded to the Kabba Teachers College, Kabba, in the present-day Kogi State, from where he graduated as a Grade II Teacher in 1983.

AIG Salman-Dogo was further educated at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He studied Library and Information Science between 1985 and 1989 at the great citadel of learning.

He subsequently commenced his brilliant working career as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ondo State.This patriot offered his primary assignment at the Registry Division of the famous Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, from 1989 to 1990.

Mr Salman-Dogo, an highly disciplined and experienced cop, subsequently joined the services of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, as Library Officer II. He served at the institution from 1991 to 1992. He, in fact, left as the Ag. Librarian of the College.

The career path of this outstanding patriot took an entirely different dimension when he enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force as a Regular Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1992. He was subsequently trained at the Police Training College, Jos, between May, 1992 and December, 1993.

Following the successful completion of his training, Mr Salman-Dogo did his professional attachment at the Garki Division of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja Command. Due to his outstanding performance, he was appointed as the Divisional Traffic, Patrol and Guard Officer, a task he discharged with bravery, competence and professionalism.

He thereafter became the Divisional Crime Officer at Gwagwalada, Abuja. He was at the Division from 1995 to 1998. He also served as the Staff Officer Senior (SOS) of the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Police between 1998 and 1999.

Mr Salman-Dogo equally served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the FCT Police Command during the course of which he led the team that arrested the infamous 2000 milliner Robbers who killed the popular Television Broadcaster, Miss Tokunbo Ajayi. He was also the officer who established the popular Abattoir in Abuja, which currently houses some of the specialised Investigation Units of the Force such as the IGP Intelligence Response Unit(IRT) and the Special Tactical Section (STS).

This distinguished officer and gentleman also served as the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Charge of Gwagwalada, Abuja. He also served as the DPO at Lugbe, Kubwa and Utako, all in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He was also the Divisional Police Officer at Agbaroh and Ibuza in Delta State.

Mr Salman-Dogo served as the Chief Superintendent of Police (Administration) at the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Police. He was also the Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (SIIB), Asaba, Delta State.

After an eventful official sojourn in Delta State, Mr Salman-Dogo was transferred to Osun State in the South Western part of Nigeria. He served as the Divisional Police Officer, Ejigbo. He also held the same position in Iwo. It was while in the renowned Muslim town that he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

As soon as he became an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he was transferred to the commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos. He was the Area Commander Area “A”, which is popularly known as the Lion Building, Lagos. He was also the Camp Commandant, Force Headquarters, Abuja. Mr Salman-Dogo also served as the Area Commander in-charge of the Kaduna Metropolitan, Kaduna, Kaduna State. He held the same position at Wudil, Kano, Kano State.

This unassuming officer also served as Divisional Police Officer, Zuba. He was also the Deputy Commissioner of Police(Operations) at the Anambra State Police Command. He equally served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Criminal Investigation Department), Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Mr.Salman-Dogo was the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Zone 12,
Bauchi, Bauchi State.

He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Police Commissioner in 2022. He was posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Force Headquarters, Abuja.

This distinguished officer has attended several courses, which sharpened his policing wherewithal and administrative skills to the advantage of those he had sworn to protect their lives and property. Among the courses he attended were the Advanced Traffic Course at the Police Training School,Jos;Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos;Intermediate Command Course(ICC) at the Police Staff College, Jos and the Command and Staff College, Jaji,Kaduna. He was also trained in Advanced Intelligence and Analysis Course at the Nigerian Military Intelligence School, Tegoh Barracks, Apapa, Lagos and the Strategic Leadership & Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, to mention a few.

This exceptionally loyal and brilliant officer is married and blessed with children who are also doing very well.

Mr Salman-Dogo is a dutiful officer who believes that everything and everyone around him must be law-abiding. He would do anything and sacrifice everything worth sacrificing to ensure that sanity prevails.

As this distinguished son of Ilorin settles down for his new role as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, I wish Mr Salman-Dogo a more peaceful career.

Imam is National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union.