The newly appointed Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar Hadejia, on Monday officially assumed duty, warning that the state “will not be a safe haven for criminals.”

Hadejia unveiled a security agenda centered on intelligence-led and community-driven policing, emphasizing that his immediate priorities include tackling cross-border crimes, kidnapping, and the illegal movement of arms across Kebbi’s expansive rural and border areas.

The state shares boundaries with Niger Republic and is considered a key transit point for rural banditry in Nigeria’s North-West. “Kebbi is strategically important because of its terrain, border communities, and proximity to other countries,” Hadejia told officers and journalists at the Police Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi. “Our mandate is clear: strengthen border security, disrupt criminal networks, and improve rapid response across rural and urban areas.”

Hadejia succeeds CP Bello M. Sani, who retired after decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force. He pledged to run a police command anchored on professionalism, discipline, and respect for human rights, while calling for stronger collaboration between security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and vigilante groups.

“No security agency can succeed alone. Early intelligence saves lives, prevents crime, and strengthens public safety,” he stressed, urging residents to provide timely information to law enforcement.

Born in Hadejia, Jigawa State, in 1967, Hadejia holds degrees from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Bayero University, Kano. His career includes United Nations Peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Liberia, a four-year tenure at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission where he rose to Director of Operations, and postings at Force Headquarters in Abuja and the Yobe State Command.

Security analysts note that his deployment aligns with the federal government’s renewed efforts to curb trans-border criminality and insecurity in the North-West.

Hadejia expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission for the confidence placed in him and promised to partner with the Kebbi State Government to maintain peace and protect lives and property.