Nigeria Police Elevates Yusuf Ajape Oganija to Commissioner, Lauds Exemplary Service
In a moment that resonates with honor, prestige, and the triumph of resilience, the Nigeria Police Force has decorated Yusuf Abdullateef Ajape Oganija, psc, mnips with the exalted rank of Commissioner of Police (CP). The announcement, greeted with widespread admiration across the Force and within his ancestral home of Ilorin, Kwara State, is more than a personal victory — it is a national story of service, discipline, and destiny fulfilled.
“Family, friends, senior security officers, and well-wishers from across the nation converged at the momentous ceremony to honour and celebrate CP Yusuf on his well-deserved promotion — lauding his exceptional service record, uncompromising professionalism, and steadfast dedication to national security.”
While speaking with Newsway Reporters, CP Yusuf lauded the Nigeria Police Force under the exemplary leadership of IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commending its unwavering reforms and institutional support. He further reiterated his commitment to uphold the highest standards of ethical leadership, professionalism, and service to the nation.”
Born in 1968 into the noble family of Late Mallam Amuda Oganija and Late Hajia Nana Ayisat Ejide of Alanamu Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, CP Oganija’s ascent is a testimony that royal values of honor, integrity, and service to humanity never go unrewarded. His roots in the historic Ilorin Emirate, a land renowned for scholarship, leadership, and cultural dignity, remain evident in his character and conduct as an officer and a patriot.
A graduate of the University of Ilorin, where he earned a B.Ed in Physical and Health Education, Oganija’s journey began not in the corridors of power, but in the classrooms of knowledge and the fields of sport. As a young teacher at MUSECO, Igbaja, he not only nurtured minds but also made a mark in community empowerment by founding the Oladimeji Tigress Football Club, Igbaja—one of the earliest female football teams in Nigeria, blazing the trail for women in sports at a time when such initiatives were rare.
In 1994, guided and mentored by Alhaji Chief (Dr.) Abdul-Raheem Oladimeji, OFR, FNEAP, FSPSR — the revered Asiwaju and Jagunmolu of Igbominaland, Arogundade of Lagos, Baba Oba of Offa Kingdom, and Founder of Al-Hikmah University — Oganija answered the call to higher service and was enlisted as a Cadet ASP. Thus began a professional odyssey that would take him through the ranks, through battles against crime, through delicate international missions, and into the annals of the Nigeria Police Force.
After enduring 23 months of rigorous training at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, he launched into active service, serving in Abia State Command, before being deployed on United Nations Special Duties in Kosovo for 18 months, and later contributing to global peace efforts in the Peacekeeping Mission in Timor-Leste. His dedication abroad brought pride to Nigeria, demonstrating the capability of the Force on the international stage.
At home, his reputation as a tactical leader and problem-solver was cemented in Anambra State, where he served as DPO Nteje, DPO CPS Onitsha, DPO Ogidi, and DPO Ekwulobia, Aguata. His keen sense of justice, coupled with firmness in restoring law and order, earned him accolades from communities and superiors alike. Rising steadily, he commanded critical areas as Area Commander, Awka, Festac, Ikirun (Osun State), and Owo (Ondo State).
As Yusuf Abdullateef Ajape Oganija, psc, mnips, ascends to the enviable rank of Commissioner of Police, his record of service as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) stands as one of the most defining phases of his career. These assignments, spread across multiple zones and critical formations, revealed his depth as a strategist, reformer, and operational commander in the Nigeria Police Force.
From the bustling corridors of Zone 14 in Katsina, where he served as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Oganija confronted the reality of insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West. It was a posting that demanded not just tactical deployment of men and resources, but also the delicate balance of intelligence gathering and community partnership in an environment threatened by banditry and insurgency. His tenure demonstrated resilience and calm leadership under pressure.
He was later redeployed to Kaduna State as Deputy Commissioner of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) — a position that placed him at the heart of high-profile investigations. In this role, Oganija sharpened his reputation as a thorough investigator, driving intelligence-led policing, and ensuring that justice was pursued with diligence and fairness in one of Nigeria’s most sensitive states.
His journey also saw him entrusted with the prestigious office of Commandant, Police Intelligence School, Share, Kwara State. There, he shifted from field operations to shaping the future of policing. As Commandant, Oganija trained and mentored officers, emphasizing modern intelligence techniques, ethical standards, and capacity building in line with global best practices. His stewardship left a legacy of a more professional, intelligence-driven police cadre.
The trajectory continued at Zone 7, Abuja, where he served as Deputy Commissioner, Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) and later as Deputy Commissioner of Operations. These postings in the Federal Capital Territory placed him at the epicenter of policing in Nigeria’s administrative heart. From overseeing criminal investigations that required utmost discretion, to coordinating operations across the Zone, Oganija proved his mastery of both strategic planning and tactical execution.
These strategic leadership postings were not merely career steps — they were tests of character, competence, and command. At every point, Oganija brought to bear his wealth of experience, his firm but humane approach to policing, and his unwavering commitment to the rule of law.
Today, as he assumes duty as Commissioner of Police, those years in strategic command stand as proof that his rise is no accident, but the natural culmination of a career built on service, sacrifice, and tested leadership.
In each of these postings, CP Oganija carried the aura of an officer with vision, intellect, and discipline — blending firmness with compassion, and operational toughness with intelligence-driven strategies.
Now, with his elevation to the rank of Commissioner of Police, CP Oganija has entered the pantheon of Nigeria’s top police leadership. It is a coronation of years of diligence, courage, and unwavering loyalty to the Force and the nation. For his colleagues, he is a commander. For his community, he is a pride. For the younger officers, he is a living inspiration of how discipline, service, and destiny converge.
Beyond the badge and baton, CP Oganija is a family man, happily married to Alhaja Jarinat Adebimpe Yusuf, with whom he is blessed with children. His love for films, soccer, and badminton reflects the balanced soul behind the uniform — a man who embraces life’s simplicity while carrying the weight of national responsibility.
In the words of many admirers, his promotion is not only a personal elevation but a royal feather in the cap of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State, and a reaffirmation of the Nigeria Police Force’s tradition of rewarding excellence. His journey, marked by scholarship, service, and sacrifice, will continue to inspire generations of officers yet unborn.
As CP Yusuf Abdullateef Ajape Oganija takes his seat among the high-ranking guardians of law and order, the nation watches with pride and expectation. For in him, the values of discipline, integrity, and leadership converge to signal a new dawn of hope for security, justice, and peace in Nigeria.
