…Crime Reporters recall him as a Gentleman and an Officer
Juliana Francis
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Gbolahan Olugbemi Mohammed died on April 1st, 2024, at his private residence in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
The death of the light-skinned, soft-spoken officer has plunged different people into mourning, including the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN).
His death also made many begin to remember and reminisce that he was a gentleman and an officer.
Indeed, before social media became full of stories and videos of policemen in uniform being attacked and assaulted, the Gbolahan could be said to be among the first who experienced such dreadful and shameful treatment.
Back then Gbolahan was the Personal Assistant to the late Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Mr Israel Ajao. It will be recalled that Ajao retired as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The incident happened when Ajao was the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
The journalist had told Gbolahan that he wanted to see Ajao and was making moves to bypass protocol, but Gbolahan stopped him and urged him to exercise patience, stressing that the CP had some visitors.
This became a point for argument and counter-argument and before one could say, Jack Robison, the journalist gave Gbolahan a resounding slap. But to his credit, Gbolahan did not retaliate, rather his face turned red and it was apparent he wrestled with his anger and defeated it.
This singular action made many journalists and policemen refer to him as a gentleman and an officer.
Our reporter also spoke with some of his friends and subordinates.
A senior officer, who has worked with him said: “Many of us are still in shock. I cannot just believe it. It’s like a bad dream. The manner of his death. The truth is that many of us are going through a lot, but we still have to hang in there. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I so much liked and respected him.”
He shared his version of how Gbolahan died with our reporter.
His words: “He has a house at Ogbomosho and went there for the weekend I guess. He told his orderly that he would stop at Iwo-road to pick her up while heading back to Lagos State.
“When the orderly did not see him on the agreed date and time, she called his phone, but he did not pick it up. The orderly then called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the nearest police station to the DCP’s house, but the DPO had travelled and was said not to be in Ogbomosho then. This same DPO was given a boy’s quarter by the DCP to live. The orderly decided to go to Ogbomosho. When she got to his house, she saw his body hanged and dangling.”
A Former President of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), Mr Sunday Odita said: “He was always reminding us that he practised journalism. He was a very humane and people-centric officer. He was fearless and bold. He rallied around the late Young Arebamen, former commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command’s family and ensured his boss got a befitting burial after his demise.
“He called any journalist, ‘front page.’ He was a detribalised Nigerian and a professional cop. My last encounter with him was in CP Adegoke Fayoade’s office in Abuja when he was CP Armament. The three of us in CP Adegoke’s office cracked jokes and remembered the good old days. He was a good man.
Mr Eugene Agha, a crime reporter with The Daily Trust said: “Throwing banters and sharing jokes with his media friends had always been his style. He would say, ‘When I retire, I will own a media house and employ you guys.’ He was very loyal to his bosses. Not an arrogant officer. His simple nature saved his station during the #ENSARS Protests.”
Another Crime Reporter, Mike Osemeke said: “He was a core professional officer and dedicated to his work. Knowing was an added plus because he helped those who came around him and was accessible to people. He liked people to have accessibility to human and work resources to enable them to thrive and work effectively especially when I was with the Crime Fighters. A great loss to the Nigeria Police Force, his family and friends. He will be greatly missed and we know that posterity will judge him fairly and etch his name in the history as a perfect officer and a gentleman.”
A veteran crime reporter and security analyst, Mr Atta Folorusho said: “He was a good friend of ours – I and the late Gabriel Orok of PM News-. He respected us not only for the fact that his bosses such as DIG Adedayo Adeoye, CPs Young Arebame and Israel Ajao were our friends.
“I think he held us in high esteem because of his upbringing. He was such a humble guy that as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in charge of area J in Ajah, most of the residents of the area never believed that he was the area commander.
“Most times he goes to fetch some of his daily needs from shops around his office. He was accessible to all right from his days at Ilupeju Police Station where he was the DPO.
“I recalled how he treated me and the late Orok with respect. As the personal assistant to Young Arebamen and Israel Ajao when they held the fort as the Lagos state commissioners of police between 2002 and 2005, Gbolahan never allowed us to follow the usual protocol whenever we came calling to see his bosses.
“He ushered us into his boss’s office swiftly to see whenever the opportunity arose. He did the same when he was P. A to Ajao when he was the DIG in charge of operations. Till his death, whenever I called him, the first question he asked me was, ‘How is the Orok family doing?’
“Of all the police officers who were our friends, only late DCP Gbolahan M. Olugbemi remembered the late Gabriel Orok’s family. On several occasions, he either sent me to Orok’s wife or asked me to tell her to see him for a welfare package. May his gentle soul find eternal rest!”
The Crime Editor of the Observer newspaper, Mr Raymond Tedujaiye said: “Gbolahan is very cool-headed, firm, decisive. The Late DCP Gbolahan Olugbemi is a very amiable, cool-headed, consummate gentleman and a professional police officer.
“He is easy going, but very firm and decisive. I could recollect his days as Personal Assistant to the late CP Young Arebamen when one of our colleagues of blessed memory wanted to take him for a ride because of his gentleness. Gbolahan never mentioned the closeness of the colleague to CP Arebamen but dealt with him in his way.
“One other feature about him is that he was always ready to assist in whatever capacity he could and was also a generous giver. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
The Publisher of Pride News Magazine, Mr Joshua also has something to say about the late officer.
His words: “Apart from his gentility, he was a reliable, straightforward forward and dependable Police officer. Anytime you knocked on his door, he would give you an audience. I missed him greatly and I pray his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
The Crime Editor of The Nation Newspaper, Mrs Precious Igbonwelundu said: “He was a very blunt man. He was kind and liked to crack jokes. From time to time he would call me and say ‘Precious that never calls nor checks on me anyone, how are you?’ Gbolahan was a brain box of intelligence and quite versatile.
“He also liked to argue a lot but would give in once your points were convincing. It’s still very shocking he’s no more and unbelievable the way he died. May his soul rest in peace.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Force CID, Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos State, Mayegun Aminat, said: “Officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, (Annex), Alagbon, Lagos are deeply saddened by the untimely passage of DCP Gbolahan Olugbemi Lawal on Monday, April 1st, 2024, at his private residence in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
“In a condolence letter to the Olugbemi Family in Ogbomoso, AIG Idowu Owohunwa, the AIG FCID Annex, Lagos describes DCP Gbolahan as a cherished colleague who was highly revered for his integrity, courage, diligence, steadfastness, and exceptional professionalism.
“He noted that the remarkable contributions to the Force in all the spheres that DCP Gbolahan served in his lifetime remain laudable legacies for which he will be eternally remembered within the Nigeria Police Family.
“In this distressing time, the grieving family, friends and associates were urged to remain steadfast, uphold faith, and join us in reverently praying to Almighty God to forgive our late respected colleague’s imperfections and grant him eternal peace.
“In condoling his family, Owohunwa prayed that Allah (SWT) should grant DCP Gbolahan Aljannatul Firdausi.”
