By Adesakin Adefemi
The Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola has officially assumed command of the Delta State Police Command as its 23rd helmsman, succeeding Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda, who was recently elevated and redeployed to the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The handover ceremony, held at the Command’s headquarters in Asaba, was marked by tributes, pledges of continuity, and a clear message: Delta will no longer be a playground for crime.
Born on September 2, 1968, in Abeokuta South LGA of Ogun State, CP Adesola is a seasoned officer whose career spans over three decades. He earned a degree certificate in Sociology from Ondo State University in 1990 and joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP (Course 4) on June 10, 1994, after graduating from the prestigious Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.
His first posting was to Delta State in 1996 — where he served in Ogwashi-Uku — giving him deep local insight even before returning as top cop.
His illustrious service includes stints as DPO Aswani Division (2012–2015), OC Homicide Unit in Edo (2016), OC X-Squad Zone 2 Lagos (2016), Assistant Commissioner of Finance & Admin in Abia (2018–2022), Commandant of the Police Training School, Oyin-Akoko, Ondo (2022), and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin) at Force Ops HQ, DCP (SCID) Rivers (2023), and DCP (Operations) Delta (2023–2025).
Promoted to Commissioner of Police in 2025, he served seven months as Deputy Commandant, Police College Ikeja, before his January 2026 deployment to Delta — a return home for the officer.
A disciplined, detribalised, and community-focused leader, CP Adesola is a graduate of numerous elite courses — Citizenship & Leadership (Sherri Hills, Jos), Tactical Leadership (Police Staff College, Jos), Police Mobile Training (Gwoza), Community Policing Train-the-Trainers (Ikeja), and ILEA
programs in Botswana and New Mexico, USA. Known for humility and strategic thinking, he champions people‑first policing and has participated in workshops across Africa and beyond.
During his inaugural address, CP Adesola pledged to consolidate existing security gains and launch more proactive operations across Delta’s 25 local government.
“We will make this state increasingly hostile to criminals,” he warned, urging citizens — especially youth — to shun criminal recruitment and report suspicious activities. He thanked outgoing AIG Abaniwonda for his stewardship and called on all residents to support the police in keeping their communities safe.
In his farewell speech, AIG Abaniwonda expressed deep gratitude to the Delta State Government, traditional rulers, and the public for their cooperation during his tenure.
He implored them to extend the same goodwill to CP Adesola, noting that “security is a shared responsibility.” His elevation to AIG is seen as recognition of his effective command and collaborative approach.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe (ANIPR, FCIA, FIPMD) confirmed that CP Adesola is married with children and enjoys reading, travel, and football hobbies that reflect his balanced personality. Edafe added that the new CP’s local roots and extensive experience give him a unique edge in tackling Delta’s evolving security challenges.
With Delta’s oil-rich economy and growing urban centres, CP Adesola’s tenure is expected to focus on curbing kidnapping, cultism, and petty crime while strengthening intelligence‑led operations and community engagement. “Under his watch, no criminal will feel safe in Delta,” Edafe declared — a promise already resonating across the state.
