The immediate past Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has taken a bow out of service..

Odumosu, who inspected the final parade as a CP on Tuesday, was described as “nemesis” of criminally-minded elements by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Odumosu’s retirement from the Force followed his recent attainment of the rank of AIG, after which the statutory retirement age set in. He was enlisted in the police on March 3, 1990 and served for 32 years.

The AIG took a bow at the Pull-out Parade and Valedictory Ceremony organised in his honour by the Lagos State Government at the Police Training Ground in Ikeja.

The event was attended by members of the State Executive Council; representative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP); former IGP Musiliu Smith; Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Abimbola Fashola; Commissioners of Police from Southwest states; Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials; and family members of the retiring officer.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who thanked the outgoing AIG for his service to Lagos State, noted that Odumosu attended to his constitutional duties with vigour, courage, and without giving excuses.

“Hakeem Odumosu’s appointment in November 2019 as Commissioner of Police in Lagos came with much expectation, as it was believed that his arrival would bring the long-sought succour which many Lagosians yearned given the security challenges facing the State then. These expectations came as a result of his very deep knowledge and understanding of what the security architecture of Lagos should be.

“Tango One, as we all call him, came with a wealth of experience, and new approaches to pursue effective policing. Those approaches led to an improvement in the security of lives and property in Lagos. He came, he saw and he is bequeathing a well-informed and motivated police command to officers serving in Lagos. He discharged his duties with diligence and emerged as outstanding police officer. I am happy to be at this occasion, which is a deserving farewell to AIG Hakeem Odumosu out of the Nigeria Police Force,” Sanwo-Olu said.

In his valedictory speech, Odumosu, accompanied by his wife, Nafisat, said he was not leaving the Force out of tiredness, but to experience civil life, having attained the mandatory retirement age.

He noted that his decision to join the police was not out of joblessness but his desire to serve his fatherland after his first degree in Arts at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Odumosu, who also holds a Law degree, two Master’s degrees and Diploma certificates, advised young officers to embrace discipline, which he described as the “bedrock of the Force”.