Tafa Balogun died on Thursday, August 4 at a hospital in Lagos following a brief illness. He was aged 74.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tafa Balogun, has been buried in his hometown Ila-Orangun in Ila Local Government Area of Osun State.
Present at the funeral on Saturday was the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, who was represented by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode; and representatives of Osun State Government.
Balogun died on Thursday, August 4 at a hospital in Lagos following a brief illness. He was aged 74.
Balogun was named the 21st Inspector-General of Police on March 6, 2002.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday condoled with the family, friends, and associates of Balogun.
He also mourned with the Nigeria Police Force, an institution he said Balogun spent the better part of his life serving.
Buhari’s condolence message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
Adesina said, “The President recalls that Tafa Balogun, during his tenure as IGP, did his utmost to ensure that the police performed its statutory responsibilities under a democratic dispensation; and his penchant for boosting the morale of officers and men in the Force has been acknowledged by those who served under him.
“President Buhari’s thoughts are with the family, the government and people of Osun State, as well as colleagues and former colleagues of the deceased police chief.”
He, therefore, prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed.
Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola also mourned Balogun.
Oyetola, in a message, condoled the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun; former Osun Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande; the immediate family and friends of Balogun; the Nigeria Police Force; and the people of Ila-Orangun, where the late IGP hailed from.
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In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor also noted the contribution of the late retired police officer, saying his input contributed in no small measure to the nation’s security during his years of service in the Force, including when he served as the IGP between 2002 and 2005.
The governor described Balogun as a true patriot and respected community leader who made notable contributions to the development of his community and humanity.
He added that this informed the conferment of Oluomo of Igbominaland chieftaincy title on him in the year 2020 by first-class Igbomina traditional rulers in Kwara and Osun states.
The statement quoting Oyetola further read, “On behalf of the government and the good people of Osun, I join family members, friends, the Nigerian Police Force, and the people of Ila-Orangun to mourn the death of retired Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
“I pray Almighty Allah overlooks his shortcomings, admit him into Aljanah and grant his family and loved ones the strength to bear his demise.”
An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court convicted Balogun in 2005 of money laundering after a plea bargain and sentenced him to six months in prison.