Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has officially launched two extensive biographies chronicling his life, policing journey and leadership experience, saying the publications were conceived to enrich national security discourse and provide strategic guidance for serving and future law enforcement leaders.
Speaking at the launch event held on Saturday at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Abuja, the former Police Chief said he initially resisted attempts by biographers to document his story, fearing it could be misinterpreted as self-glorification while still in office. He eventually agreed, he explained, after becoming convinced that the project would serve broader national and professional value beyond his personal legacy.
Alkali Baba said he realised that sharing his experiences spanning decades of operational, administrative and strategic policing could inspire younger officers and deepen public understanding of internal security dynamics at a time when Nigeria faces complex national security challenges.
He stressed that knowledge and experience must never be hoarded, noting that documenting and sharing insights is essential for organisational growth and national development.
In his remarks, the former IGP paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari for his role in his professional journey and for writing the foreword to one of the biographies, The Policeman Personified. He also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ongoing reforms aimed at restoring police primacy in internal security, including the recent directive withdrawing police escorts from undeserving VIPs.
Alkali Baba expressed gratitude to Vice President Kashim Shettima, who served as Special Guest of Honour; the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam; Prince Arthur Eze, the Chief Launcher; former Service Chiefs; retired Inspectors-General of Police; traditional rulers; and other dignitaries in attendance.
He further commended the biographers and emphasized that any imperfections in the publications rest solely with them.
Author of one of the biographies, Giant Footprints, Joseph Saater Undu, said the book was inspired by a six-day period in 2022 during which the then Inspector-General commissioned 198 projects nationwide. His investigative verification of these projects across more than twenty states, he said, confirmed the depth and authenticity of Alkali Baba’s infrastructural reforms.
Undu described the retired Police Chief as a visionary reformer whose story represents resilience, innovation and principled leadership. He said the biography aimed to inspire young officers and preserve a significant chapter in Nigeria’s policing history.
