Niger State Welcomes New Police Commissioner as Elleman Retires

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has appointed Salisu Fago as the new Commissioner of Police for Niger State. This comes after the retirement of his predecessor, Adamu Elleman.

In a statement released on Monday, the PSC explained that this appointment followed an interview by its Standing Committee on Police Matters. Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Taiwo Lakanu led the committee.

Mr Lakanu stood in for the Commission’s Chairman, Hashimu Argungu, during the interview process.

The PSC chairman advised the new commissioner to stay politically neutral. He also urged him to develop effective strategies, including community-based policing, to tackle crime and ensure peace and security in Niger State.

About the New Commissioner

Mr Fago joined the Nigeria Police Force on 10 June 1994 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. He has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Criminal Management and Policy (MCMP).

He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and has taken part in several professional training courses. These include the Advanced Intelligence Detective Course, Police Mobile Force Commanders Training Course, and Tactical Leadership Command Course.

With over 30 years of experience in both operational and administrative roles, he has held various positions. These include Officer-in-Charge of the State Intelligence Bureau in Kano and Katsina commands, Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Criminal Investigation Department in Katsina, and Assistant Commissioner of Police in Operations in Delta and Maiduguri.

He also served as Commanding Officer of the 6 Police Mobile Force in Maiduguri and the 52 Police Mobile Force in Chalawa, Kano, before he was assigned as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration in Zamfara State Command.

Profile of the Outgoing Commissioner

Mr Elleman, who was the 38th Commissioner of Police in Niger State, started his career in the Nigeria Police Force on 25 June 1994 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.

He is from Kaugama Local Government Area in Jigawa State and has more than 31 years of law enforcement experience.

He has a Diploma in Law, an LL.B degree, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar.

His training includes time at the Police Staff College in Jos and the National Institute of Police Studies in Abuja. He also underwent special training in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa.

Before moving to Niger State in March 2025, Mr Elleman held several important positions in the police and other government sectors.

His career features roles such as Officer-in-Charge of Legal and Prosecution and General Investigation in Taraba State from 1996 to 1999, and Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Car Theft in the Federal Capital Territory in 2002.

He was the first Head of Operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003, a Staff Officer in the Force Secretary’s Office in 2007, and Director of Intelligence, Investigation, and Enforcement at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in 2009.

Other roles he held include Officer-in-Charge of the Special Investigation Unit at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in 2015 and Head of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit in 2019 and 2023. He was also the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Operations at Zone 7 Headquarters in Abuja in 2021.

In 2024, he was Deputy Commissioner of Police in Administration and Finance at Jigawa State Command before becoming Commissioner of Police in charge of Maritime, Lagos, until March 2025.

Mr Elleman took over as the Niger State Commissioner of Police in March 2025, succeeding AIG Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, who was promoted and moved to a higher position.

During his time in office, he focused on intelligence-led policing, operational efficiency, and working closely with communities to address security issues. He also encouraged residents, traditional rulers, and community leaders to support the police with useful information to help protect lives and property.

His retirement now allows Mr Fago to take control of the police command in the state.