We’re Always Quick to Blame the Police — But Today, Let’s Celebrate One Who Deserves Our Praise
We all know how quick we are to call out the police when they mess up — and honestly, many times they deserve it. But how often do we stop to appreciate the few officers who are truly doing their job with heart, intelligence, and dedication?
Today, let’s take a moment to celebrate CSP Iburu Ifeanyi, the commander of the RRS/Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Awkuzu, Anambra State.
You may not know his name, but I’m sure many of you will recognize him from the photo below. He and his team were the ones who arrested 10 deadly kidnappers responsible for several high-profile abductions in Anambra and Asaba, including the heartbreaking kidnap and murder of Hon. Justice Ikem. Azuka.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting — and honestly, it sounds like something out of a movie.
Two of the kidnappers managed to escape in Asaba while being used to lure a car dealer, Tochukwu Akaolise from Obosi, who had allegedly been buying stolen vehicles from them. That kind of mistake could’ve ended the case. But not under CSP Iburu’s watch.
When one of the escapees, Ikemefuna Ossai, fled, he didn’t just hide in another town. He took off across states — from Imo to Bayelsa, then to Lagos — and eventually escaped to Ghana. Many officers would’ve given up at that point. But CSP Iburu packed his bags and followed him to Ghana. He stayed there for two full weeks, tracking the suspect.
When Ikemefuna realized he was being tracked in Ghana, he fled back to Lagos. But here’s the twist — on his way out of Ghana, he stole an iPhone 14, and that very phone became the tool CSP Iburu used to trace him.
Still running, Ikemefuna moved to Benin. At some point, his girlfriend sent him money to a POS operator in Asaba. What he didn’t know was that CSP Iburu, working behind the scenes, had arranged the whole thing — using his girlfriend to bait him. The moment Ikemefuna showed up to withdraw the money, CSP Iburu and his team swooped in and arrested him right there.
As I write this, that same escapee is back in custody — all thanks to the persistence of one police officer who refused to give up.
This happened two months ago, yet no major platform reported it. No award was given. No headlines were made.
Meanwhile, other officers were being celebrated in Abuja with medals and applause — yet CSP Iburu Ifeanyi was not even mentioned.
That’s why I’m writing this. Because sometimes, real heroes don’t wear capes — they wear uniforms and go after criminals when no one is watching. CSP Iburu is one of them.
To the Nigerian Police Force, to the people of Anambra, and to everyone who still believes in justice — this man deserves our recognition. It’s never too late to say thank you to someone who risks his life for the safety of others.
