Umuahia, Abia State — The Abia State Police Command has announced the assumption of duty of CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi as the 35th Commissioner of Police in the state.
Afolabi takes over from AIG Danladi Isa, who has been promoted and redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Kaduna.
The new Abia police commissioner is a seasoned officer with more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force. He joined the force on May 18, 1992, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Afolabi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from the University of Ilorin, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master’s degree in Peace and Security Studies from the University of Port Harcourt.
He has also undergone several professional and strategic leadership courses, including the Strategic Leadership and Command Course at the National Institute of Police Studies, Abuja; Tactical Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; Internal Security/Low Intensity Conflict Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; and a Peacekeeping Negotiation Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
International policing experience
The new commissioner also has extensive international peacekeeping experience.
Between 2004 and 2005, he served as the Pioneer Sector Commander of Sector 2, Nyala, and Pioneer Regional Commander of Southern Darfur under the African Union Mission in Sudan. During the assignment, he was involved in establishing operational and administrative structures, setting up police stations in internally displaced persons’ camps and coordinating civil police activities.
Earlier, between 2001 and 2002, he served as the Nigeria Contingent Commander and Special Response Unit Officer under the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His responsibilities included contributing to law enforcement reforms, system analysis and training development for local police personnel.
Previous command positions
Before his latest posting to Abia, Afolabi served as Commissioner of Police, Administration, Training and Development at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He previously served as Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, where he was responsible for coordinating administrative and operational activities, strengthening intelligence gathering, improving investigative efficiency and promoting community policing initiatives.
He also served as Force Equitation Officer, Mounted Troop, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he supervised mounted police operations, operational preparedness, crowd-control duties and ceremonial assignments.
Between 2021 and 2023, Afolabi held several Deputy Commissioner of Police positions, including DC Administration in Delta State Command, DC Criminal Investigation Department in Katsina State Command and DC Operations in Bayelsa State Command.
As an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he served in various capacities including Area Commander in Anambra State, ACP Operations in Imo State and ACP Intelligence in Abuja.
He also served as a Divisional Police Officer in several divisions within Abuja and as a Directing Staff at the Police Staff College, Jos, where he was involved in training and mentoring senior police officers.
His career has further included assignments as Sector Commander and Second-in-Command in Joint Task Force operations in Warri, Staff Officer at Force Headquarters and Unit Commander of the Police Mobile Force in Plateau State.
National and international assignments
Afolabi has participated in several national and international assignments during his career. He was among the first Nigerian police officers deployed to the African Union Mission in Sudan and served as the last Contingent Commander of the Nigeria Police Team to the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He has also served as an Aide-De-Camp to visiting Heads of State and participated in the organisation of major international events, including the All African Games and Commonwealth Summit.
The new commissioner is a Fellow of the Peace and Security Studies Department at the University of Port Harcourt and a Justice of the Peace (JP).
He is married with children and is said to enjoy travelling and reading.
The Abia State Police Command has appealed to residents, government institutions, traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to cooperate with the new commissioner as he assumes responsibility for policing the state.
Afolabi’s deployment comes at a time when security remains a major concern across the state, with stakeholders expected to work closely with the police command to strengthen public safety and community confidence.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Command, on August 10, 2026.
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