We lost gallant officers defending, protecting citizens in Edo — AIG Agbonika

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 5, Benin City, Monday Agbonika, has said that some gallant police officers lost their lives while serving as Commissioners of Police in the Edo State Command.

Agbonika, who is the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, noted that some officers paid the supreme price in the defence of the nation and the protection of citizens.

He disclosed that during the period, the Command encountered difficult moments which included protests involving youths, students, civil society groups, parents, and even the business community.

He stated this on Monday, August 10, 2026 after handing over to the newly appointed Commissioner of Police in the Command, Patrick Daaor.

He said the Command, however, honoured the courage and sacrifice of the deceased officers.

The newly promoted AIG, described winning the trust and confidence of the Edo people as his greatest challenge when he served as Commissioner of Police in the State.

According to him, my greatest challenge here in Edo State is probably getting to win the trust and confidence of the people of Edo State.

“But, I am happy to tell you that at the end, eventually after a lot of challenges, they got to understand our strategies and they started supporting and that was when we started making achievements and progress in the states,” he said.

He opined that the successes recorded by the Command under him came at a cost, advising his successor to partner all stakeholders in the fight against insecurity.

“My advice to the incoming Commissioner of Police is to leverage the achievements, especially what we have achieved in terms of breaking into the grassroots, because we have to be able to give good services to the grassroots.

“He should continue with the society approach, engaging all stakeholders, engaging the CSOs agencies and continue to work closely with the government at the same time working with traditional rulers, working with hunters, working with youths, working with all sectors of the community,” he added.

Speaking while receiving the handover note from his predecessor, the new Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, assured that his administration would leverage community policing while operating an open-door policy in its bid to effectively police the state.

Daaor assured Edo residents of a highly mobile and proactive police Command that is ready to face crime and criminality headlong.

“We will work towards winning more of the trust of the good people of Edo State and will ensure that every policeman has respect for every citizen of their state,” he stated.

He, however, advised officers of the Command to be civil while carrying out their lawful duties.