Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Adebola Hamzat, has assumed duties as the new AIG in charge of Zone 16.

Mr Hamzat was posted to succeed AIG Paul Omata, who recently retired from the force.

This is contained in a statement to journalists on Tuesday by the zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 16 headquarters in Yenagoa, SP Gunn Emonena.

The statement reads, “This is to inform members of the public that Mr Hamzat took over the mantle upon the recent meritorious retirement of AIG Paul Alifa Omata.

“The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun PhD, NPM, has appointed AIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, fdc, as the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa. AIG Hamzat, an indigene of Ifelodun LGA of Kwara State, was commissioned into the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on May 18, 1992.”

Mr Hamzat is a graduate of Sociology from the University of Ilorin and holds a masters degree in Conflict Management & Peace Studies from the University of Jos and a PhD in Peace and Development Studies from the University of Ilorin.

He is also a seasoned officer of repute and a distinguished fellow of the defence college.

It added, “In the course of his career as a police officer, the AIG has served at different capacity in all strata of the Nigeria Police Force and globally. He is a well known investigator and intelligence professional, whose operational experience and core intelligence abilities earned him commendable duty tours in the United Nation Missions in Kosovo (UNMIK) and Timor Leste (East Timor).

“Until his recent posting to the Zone as the 9th Zonal commander, AIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat was the immediate past AIG in charge of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force. He also served as Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, and Commissioner of Police Border Patrol Force, respectively.

“The Zonal Headquarters hereby solicits the full cooperation and support of the good people of Bayelsa and Rivers states to enable him to bear his extensive knowledge and proven skills in policing in line with the IGP agenda.” 

(NAN)