By Alaba Abdulrazak
For a career spanning more than 20 years, DCP Abba Kyari strode the crime world in Nigeria like a colossus, leaving no one in doubt that he was in charge. His name alone sent shivers down the spine of criminals, especially those who have always evaded arrest.
As the head of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari became popular for solving difficult cases which led to arrests and prosecution of many notorious criminals in the country.
Some of the achievements recorded by Kyari were the arrest of Nigeria’s most wanted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwaumadike a.k.a Evans in Lagos State, arrest of the killers of former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Air Marshal Alex Badeh ‘rtd.’, arrest of the most wanted Boko-Haram Commander Umar Abdulmalik and eight of his terrorist gang members, arrest of twenty-two (22) Boko-Haram terrorist gang members responsible for the kidnap of the Chibok School Girls in 2014, capturing of the most deadly kidnapper in the history of Nigeria, Henry Chibueze a.k.a ‘Vampire’ in Owerri, Imo State, arrest of the deadly Offa bank robbers who invaded Offa Town, Kwara State and robbed five commercial banks, and also killed thirty-one (31) innocent Nigerians making it the deadliest bank robbery in the history of Nigeria and many others.
Kyari received accolades and commendations in and outside Nigeria for his patriotism and dedication to police duty. He became the new positive face of the Nigeria Police Force.
At 46, Abba Kyari has emerged as one of the most decorated officers in the history of Nigeria Police with so many awards and recognitions. He was a triple winner of the IGP Commendation Medal for Courage for 2012, 2013, 2014. Triple Lagos State Governor’s award for Gallantry, Leadership and Service Excellence for 2011, 2012, 2013, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Commendation Award for courage 2011, Best Anti-Crime Police Officer in West Africa from Security Watch Africa, Star Award from CRAN 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017, 2018, 2019, Star Award for Outstanding Gallantry In Africa 2018 by Security watch Africa, Africa’s Best Detective Of The Year 2018, best Police Officer of the Decade Award, 2018 HERO of the year Award by Silverbird Group, Presidential medal for courage from President Muhammadu Buhari and many more.
He became so heroic that even the House of Representatives and the First Lady, Aisha Buhari at one time or the other honoured him. Even on social media, Kyari has become a sort of celebrity with many followers on Instagram, Facebook and others. And no one would have expected that Nigeria’s number one super cop who has earned a reputation for fighting crimes in the society could end up having skeletons in his closet.
And like the popular Yoruba proverb that says: (“Gbogbo Ojoo Nii Tole, Ojokan Nii Tolohun”), meaning (“Every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner.”) The proverb espouses the belief that you can lie, cheat, and steal, but no matter how long you get away with it, you will, someday, be caught. It trusts that justice will prevail at the end of the day. On July 29 2021, infamous Nigerian fraudster (Ramon Abbas) popularly known as Hushpuppi, who is currently facing charges of money laundering, levelled against him by the United States Government implicated DCP Abba Kyari as a party in an international scheme to defraud Qatari school founder and then launder over $1.1 million in illicit proceeds.
A 69-page court document outlines a dispute among members of the crime syndicate which allegedly prompted one Vincent to contact the victim and claim that Abbas and Juma (Also a fraudster) were engaged in the fraud. After this, Abbas allegedly arranged to have Vincent jailed in Nigeria by DCP Abba Kyari. The document further provided Abba Kyari allegedly sent Abbas account details into which he could deposit payment for Vincent’s arrests and imprisonment.
Kyari however refuted the allegations levelled against him via his verified Instagram and Facebook accounts. The United States Department of Justice also issued a warrant of arrest and has ordered Kyari’s extradition by the Nigerian authorities.
Following the allegations, the Inspector General of Police on August 1st, 2021, announced the suspension of Abba Kyari from duty pending the determination of investigation of his involvement in the Hushpuppi fraud. And in December 2021, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, submitted the probe panel report on Kyari to the Police Service Commission.
And like the Ghanaian proverb that says: “No amount of rain can wash off leopard spots, Abba Kyari’s true character revealed itself again when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency declared him wanted over his involvement in 25kg cocaine deal. NDLEA also presented video evidence involving Kyari in the alleged deal.
Though, the investigation by NDLEA is still ongoing with Kyari and four members of his team in the custody of the anti-narcotic agency; his name which had hitherto brought honour to the Nigeria Police has now smeared the image of the Force.
The present predicament of DCP Abba Kyari has raised a lot of questions. Can his actions be that of greed or what? Is Kyari’s idea of ‘chilling’ with the ‘big boys’, with questionable wealth be responsible for his greed? This reminds one of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Abraham Maslow created an idea and structure about what we need to become fully actualised as humans. But what does actualised actually mean? Actualised means to be free from the 4 Needs that Maslow posited. As it is traditionally, self-actualisation is only possible once these 4 needs are met.
Self Actualisation can sometimes equate to happiness, but there are no guarantees. You’re the only person that can tell if you’re happy or not and not some triangle full of words. In Kyari’s case, his needs became greed and slowly, by inches, it permeated into his life filling him with ever-increasing levels of entitlement.
Such entitlement destroys conscience and put one in a position to cunningly and illegally look for resources to support lifestyles of affluence.
Though the investigation is still ongoing, it is obvious that Kyari is a sinner who has been masquerading as a saint to deceive Nigerians.
Here is a young officer who before now was seen as a symbol of integrity and respectability. But today, he has descended from the height of fame to infamy on his own greed and vile volition. DCP Abba Kyari is no longer a man of integrity but infamy.
For vile greed, he abandoned a well-laid table of honour to dine in the sewers.
