Police authorities have confirmed the death of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 16 comprising Bayelsa and Rivers State, Mr Don Awunah.
His passage was confirmed to The Guardian by Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, CSP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, who reportedly regretted that the police authorities lost the super cop to the illness for which he was hospitalised.
It was learnt that the former superior police officer died on Monday morning after a brief illness at a private medical hospital in Abuja, where he was receiving treatment.
While assuming duties on October 10, last year as the AIG in-charge of Zone 16 Command, Awunah had pledged to introduce a new dimension, especially community approach in policing the Zone.
He had assured the people of the zone that they were going to witness a new dimension in policing that would anchor on community policing, community engagement and partnership driven by the people.
Being the second person handling the zone, after the retirement of AIG Austin Agbonlahor, he had served as a Commissioner of police in Bayelsa, before his elevation.
He had said that the zone would play a major role in supervision and guidance, and support the command not to take over their job.
In his words then: “The job of policing is one, so our structure is to support all other structures to serve the people better. We must create partnerships and engage the people in solving problems, because the police cannot do it alone, but with the support of the people, the police can serve better.
“So, our policing is centred on the people. That is the IGP’s message and objective which I am here to strive on,” he said.
Awunah had stressed that Nigerians should work together to combat crime and criminality, because no particular people could resolve the issue of crime alone anywhere in the world.
The deceased had served as a former Force Public Relations Officer, Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State between January 29 and August 2018, taking over from AIG Austin Agbonlahor who has retired from service,
Before his last posting as AIG, Awunah had served as the Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos in Plateau State.
He served in various capacities in the Force. He was 2i/c Special Fraud Unit, FCID Abuja (2001); Assistant Commissioner of Police, Management Service (2009-2010); Area Commander, Owerri Area Command, Imo State (2010-2011); Assistant Commissioner of Police, CID ‘D’ Department, Akwa-Ibom State (2011-2013); Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Edo State (2014); and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Homicide, FCIID (2014).
From the rank of deputy commissioner, DCP, he was appointed by the former Ag. IGP Mr Ibrahim Idris as the new FPRO in 2016.
He was an alumnus of academic institutions such as University of Ilorin, Ilorin (2014-2015); Institute of Security Studies, Abuja (2014); Benue State University, Makurdi (2009-2010, 1995-1996); Federal Polytechnic, Ida (1989-1990); University of Lagos (1981-1984); School of Basic Studies, Ugbokolo (1978-1980); Padopads Harmony Secondary School, Makurdi (1973-1978); Ladi-Lak Primary School, Yaba, Lagos (1969-1973); and St. Mathias Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta (1968-1969).
He had the following academic qualifications among others: M.A in International Relations and Strategic Studies in 2010; B.A (Hons) in Philosophy in 1984; ADPM in 1996; and Certificate in Mass Communication in 1990.
Apart from his core academic training and attainments, he attended numerous Professional Police Courses within and outside the country namely: National Security Training in Israel (2015); UNODC Seminar for Criminal Justice Practitioners on the implementation of UN Convention Against Trans-national Organized Crime in Abuja (2002); Community Policing Training, Huston, USA (2007); Police Leadership and Management – Community Policing, Scottish Police College, Scotland (2003); Study Tour of England and Scotland Police Formations – Community Policing (2003); Crime Prevention: Trans-national Organised Crime – Unafei, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan (2000); and Advanced Detective Course (1991).
He was a member of various professional bodies including Fellow, Institute of Security Studies (fsi); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration; and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
