By Banji Ayoola
A former Police Inspector General, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, has passed on.
His passage was announced by President Muhammadu Buhari in a condolence message on Friday where he described the departed as
“a man of great courage, intellect and a true Nigerian Statesman.”
In the statement, which was signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President conveyed the condolences of his family, the government and people of Nigeria , saying: “Nigeria lost a great son. He lived for the nation and served with all his strength.”
“May Allah bless his soul and give fortitude to the bereaved family, the government and people of Adamawa State to bear this irreparable loss.”
Gambo passed away on Thursday evening at 83.
He was born in Jimeta on 15 April 1937. He was appointed IGP in 1986 to succeed Etim Inyang. He was succeeded by Aliyu Attah in 1990.
Conveying the condolences of his family and that of the government and people of Nigeria, the President described the late crack police detective as “a man of great courage, intellect and a true Nigerian Statesman.”
“Today, Nigeria lost a great son. He lived for the nation and served with all his strength,” Buhari said.
“May Allah bless his soul and give fortitude to the bereaved family, the government and people of Adamawa State to bear this irreparable loss,” President Buhari prayed.
In April 2018, the rumour mill was abuzz that the old super cop had died.
But the rumour was thrashed as rumour by a family spokesman, Mubarak.
Gambo as he was fondly called went to Jimeta Elementary School, 1947-49 and Yola Middle School, 1950-55 for his early education.
He thereafter went to Bauchi Provincial Secondary School, 1956-58, Government College, Keffi, 1958-59, before attending Nigeria Police College, Kaduna in 1959 and Police College, Ikeja, also the same year.
He also went to Detective Training School, Wakefield, UK, 1962, Bramhill Police College, UK, 1963, International Police Academy, Washington DC, USA, 1980 and National Police Academy, Cairo, Egypt, Wolfson College.
After leaving the police college, Gambo began his career as a Cadet sub-Inspector.
In 1963, he was promoted Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). He became a DSP in 1967 and full superintendent in 1969.
In 1972, he was promoted Chief Superintendent of Police 1972 and assistant Commissioner of Police in 1974.
He became Commissioner of Police in 1977 and served in Lagos, where he cut national fame, as a crack police officer, dealing with robberies in the state.
In 1982, he was promoted AIG and transferred to Force Criminal Investigation Division, Alagbon Close, Lagos.
He became a DIG in 1984 and Inspector General of Police in 1986.
