Like most Nigerians, the Government and people of Anambra State have received with great sadness the unexpected death on Tuesday, March 8, of Joseph Egbunike, the most senior Deputy Inspector General of Police. Egbunike, DIG (Administration and Finance), died just three months to his scheduled retirement at 60 years.
When he was appointed the DIG in January, 2021, being the most senior police officer from the Southeast who had served meritoriously as Commissioner of Police, Governor Willie Obiano and, indeed the entire Anambra State administration hailed the appointment. We were delighted not just because he was from Anambra State—specifically Onitsha—but because of his sterling record. Take his academic and professional accomplishments.
DIG Egbunike was one of the most read officers in the Nigeria Police Force ever. Trained in accountancy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was to obtain degrees in different disciplines from the University of Lagos, Lagos State University and University of Abuja, crowning the academic pursuits with a doctorate in criminology. He was a member of such bodies as the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered Institute of Cost Management, Nigerian Bar Association, Institute of Directors, Nigerian Institute of Management, and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria as well as Institute of Fraud Examiners.
The police force was appreciative of his knowledge, skills and integrity. Hence, when a new Inspector General of Police was appointed, DIG Egbunike was asked to remain in office rather than retire. In the words of IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the fallen DIG was a huge asset to the force. He served the nation and the NPF with aplomb, discharging various duties across the nation with admiration. Very few officers have been saddled with sensitive duties, requiring a high level of trust, as Egbunike.
Tragic and shocking as his sudden death is, the Government and people of Anambra State are consoled by the fact that DIG Egbunike was a star in the Nigeria Police Force and beyond. He was another worthy Anambra State ambassador.
We console the highly respected Egbunike family of Onitsha, Igwe Nnamemeka Alfred Achebe of Onitsha, the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force on DIG Egbunike’s departure. May the Good Lord receive his soul.
