Davidson Ogbebor

The assumption of duty by Commissioner of Police Patrick Daaor, mnips, as the 51st Commissioner of Police of the Edo State Command comes at a critical moment for the state’s security architecture.

CP Daaor formally took over on August 10, 2026, succeeding AIG Monday Agbonika, who has moved to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police supervising the Edo and Delta State Commands. His arrival has generated expectations among residents who want to see a police command that is more professional, responsive and decisive in confronting the security challenges confronting the state.

For CP Daaor, the new assignment is not merely another posting. Edo presents a complex security environment requiring a combination of intelligence-led policing, effective investigation, community engagement and strong operational coordination.

The new Commissioner brings considerable experience to the assignment. He joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1994 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and has served in several commands and strategic formations across the country, including Bauchi, Adamawa, Ondo, Kaduna, Ekiti, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abuja and Lagos.

His career has also included international peacekeeping assignments with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the United Nations Mission in Sudan. Within the Nigeria Police Force, he has held sensitive responsibilities involving criminal investigation, operations, administration, INTERPOL and state-level policing.

His academic and professional background further reflects a career that has combined operational policing with strategic training. Among his specialised courses are Tactical Leadership and Command, Digital Forensic Awareness, Human Rights Training, Conflict Analysis, Military Observers training and the Strategic Leadership and Command Course at the National Institute for Police Studies.

But beyond the credentials and impressive career history, Edo citizens will judge the new Commissioner by results.

The first expectation is a visible reduction in violent crime. Kidnapping, cult-related violence, armed robbery and other forms of criminality remain issues that require sustained attention. Citizens will expect the Command to move beyond reactive policing and develop stronger intelligence networks capable of identifying criminal activities before they escalate.

There is also an urgent demand for improved investigation. Arrests alone cannot constitute success if investigations are weak and suspects eventually escape prosecution because of poor case preparation. Edo residents will expect the new administration to strengthen the investigative capacity of the Command and ensure that credible cases are properly documented and prosecuted through the appropriate legal channels.

Another major expectation is professionalism.

The police must be firm without becoming arbitrary, and citizens must be protected without their fundamental rights being compromised. CP Daaor’s experience in human rights training should therefore translate into a policing culture where discipline, accountability and respect for the law are not sacrificed in the pursuit of security.

Edo citizens will also expect better police-community relations. Security cannot be achieved through police action alone. Traditional institutions, community leaders, youth organisations, religious bodies, transport unions and residents all have roles to play in providing useful information and supporting law enforcement.

For this partnership to work, however, citizens must have confidence that information supplied to the police will be treated professionally and that whistleblowers will not be exposed unnecessarily.

The new Commissioner must also pay particular attention to cultism. The challenge requires more than periodic raids and arrests. It demands sustained intelligence gathering, disruption of criminal networks, prosecution of offenders and prevention strategies targeting the recruitment of young people into violent groups.

Technology should equally become a stronger component of policing in Edo. With CP Daaor’s background in digital forensic awareness and international investigation, expectations will be high for greater use of technology, intelligence analysis and forensic tools in identifying and tracking criminals.

There is, however, an important expectation from the citizens themselves: cooperation.

Residents cannot demand effective policing while withholding information about criminal activities within their communities. The fight against crime requires responsible citizens to report suspicious activities, support legitimate police operations and resist the temptation to shield criminals because of family, political, ethnic or community affiliations.

CP Daaor therefore arrives in Edo with both experience and a significant public expectation.

The real test will not be how impressive his résumé appears, but how effectively that experience is translated into safer streets, stronger investigations, professional policing and greater public confidence.

Edo citizens are not necessarily asking for miracles. They are asking for a police command that is present, intelligent, professional and decisive when citizens need it most.

The new Commissioner has the opportunity to set a new standard. Edo will be watching—and, ultimately, the security situation on the streets will be the most credible measure of his tenure.