BY Dennis Udoma
UYO-President Muhammadu Buhari, Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel were among the dignitaries that condoled the family of late Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang who was interred on Saturday at his home town, Enwang in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The late Inyang, died a couple of months ago in Lagos after a brief illness at the age of 80.
President Buhari, who was represented at the funeral by IGP Ibrahim Idris in his condolence message to the family described the late Etim Inyang as a humble Police Officer, whose dedication to duty and meritorious performance saw him rose to the position of Inspector-General of Police.

He said, Chief Inyang would be remembered for his devotion to duty, professionalism and patriotism, as well as his contributions to the Nigeria Police Force while his legacy to the younger generation would never be forgotten.

‘’I received the sad news of the passing away of Chief Etim Inyang, former Inspector-General of Police. I wish to extend, on behalf of my family and the Federal Government my heartfelt condolences to you and the entire family members.

‘’Chief Inyang served this country meritoriously as a Police Officer, his dedication to service and outstanding performance saw him rise to the position of Inspector-general of Police. He will be remembered for his devotion to duty, professionalism and patriotism, as well as his contribution to the Nigeria Police Force, his legacy to the younger generations will never be forgotten’’, Buhari said.

Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris who conveyed the heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Police management and the entire Police Force said, with the death of Sir Etim Inyang, the nation has once again lost one of its finest citizens.

Former IGP Etim Inyang

IGP Idris noted that, he was one of the best cops ever produced in the country, who served meritoriously while in office as the Inspector-general of Police.

According to him, ‘’No doubt, his exit is an irreparable loss to Nigeria in general and the Nigeria Police Force in particular’’, adding that, he would be remembered for his diligence, honesty and selfless service to his fatherland and prayed the Almighty God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Governor Udom Emmanuel, in his condolence to the family and the entire people of Mbo Local Government Area eulogized late Sir Etim Inyang for his good works and legacies he stood for while alive. He said, the deceased was a good ambassador of the state as evidenced in the dignitaries who have traversed the length and breath of the entire nation to pay their last respect to Nigeria’s finest crime fighter.

The Governor who maintained that, Chief Inyang was a father and an all-round good man would always be remembered for the discipline and those ideologies he stood for while serving the nation as IGP.

The biography read by his son revealed, the late IGP Etim Inyang was born in Uko Akpan in Enwang, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on December 25, 1930.
After his education in 1945, he joined the British Colonial Police Force in October, 1949 as a recruit constable and right from then, he demonstrated sterling qualities that set him apart from his colleagues as a rising star destined to be a great Police Officer.

On January 1984, luck shown on him as he was elevated to the height of his career as Police Inspector-General and consequently became a member of the Supreme Military Council from 1985 to 1986, and later Armed Forces Ruling Council from 1984 to 1985, the highest Executive and Legislative bodies in the country under the then two military regimes.

He officially and voluntarily resigned on January 1, 1987 after 37 years of dedicated service to the nation.

The late IGP was bestowed with several national and international honours among them were the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), in 1999, United Nations eminent expert in Narcotics Law-enforcement and Control, member, International Association of Chiefs of Police as well as several chietaincy titles from his community in Oron nation.

Above all, the late Etim Inyang was loved by all and had attraced many development projects to the entire Oron nation in Akwa Ibom State.

Dignitaries that graced the funeral at Enwang Township Stadium in Mbo Local Government were Ex-IGPs, former state governors, members of the National Assemblies, political stakeholders, business class and the clergies amongst others.