Tafa Balogun was appointed Nigeria’s 21st Inspector-General of Police on March 6, 2002, and left office in 2005.

He passed on in Lagos on Thursday, four days to his 75th birthday.

The funeral prayer was observed in accordance with Islamic rites at the Ila-Orangun Central Eid Praying Ground.

Chief Imam of Ila-Orangun, Dr Abdulhammed Salahudeen, presided over the burial prayers where he preached the need for humans to discharge good deeds as death is inevitable.

Former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who spoke with newsmen at the side-line of the burial, described Balogun as one of the greatest gentle police officers Nigeria had ever produced.

Arase described the departed IG-P as a mentor and a father who impacted a lot of police officers intellectually.

“He was an operational icon, intellectual to the core; a cerebral officer. Even in death he remains my mentor and benefactor.

“He was like a big father when it comes to policing difficult issues. You can always go to him for advice and we will miss him for that,’’ Arase lamented.

The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Olawale Olokode, represented the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, at the burial.

Mr Ismail Omipidan, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and the Osun Finance Commissioner, Bola Oyebamiji, both represented the state government at the funeral heavily attended by police personnel.

Source: NAN

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Balogun died in a Lagos hospital on Thursday.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, the president said he also mourned with the Nigeria Police Force, an institution Balogun spent the better part of his life serving.

The president recalled that Tafa Balogun, during his tenure as IGP, “did his utmost to ensure that the police performed its statutory responsibilities under a democratic dispensation; and his penchant for boosting the morale of officers and men in the Force has been acknowledged by those who served under him.”

He said his thoughts were with the family, the government and people of Osun State, as well as colleagues and former colleagues of the deceased police chief.

He prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed.

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He said the appeal became necessary because they remained the first line of internal security as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

Balogun made the appeal in a statement he issued on Thursday.

The statement reads: “I urge all members of the Nigeria Police in our country to return to their duty posts and continue to provide the much needed security to our dear country, Nigeria; not minding the recent brutal attacks, arson, and acts of intimidation against the Police.

“The Nigeria Police remain the first line of Internal Security as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. Therefore, it behoves all and sundry not to betray the spirit of the Constitution.

“I sincerely appeal and urge all my brothers and sisters in the Police Force to put the past behind us as the Federal and State Governments, as well as the police authorities, are positively and aggressively addressing the unprecedented provocative attacks on the police institution. We all love you.

“Please, once again, I appeal to all of you to return to duty without further delay.”

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