I never told anybody I would live forever – Abubakar Tsav

On Monday, June 8, 2020, Alhaji Abubakar Bula Tsav, a former commissioner of police in Lagos and Kano states passed on at the age of 82. Tsav’s death was first confirmed by his third son, Sani, who also hinted that his father took ill for a brief period before he gave up the ghost at […]

On Monday, June 8, 2020, Alhaji Abubakar Bula Tsav, a former commissioner of police in Lagos and Kano states passed on at the age of 82.

Tsav’s death was first confirmed by his third son, Sani, who also hinted that his father took ill for a brief period before he gave up the ghost at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, Benue State.

He was interred same day at the Makurdi cemetery, according to Islamic rites after prayers were offered for the repose of his soul at the Central Mosque in the Wadata area of the town.

In his last days, Tsav, who was known to be outspoken and fearless in criticising public office holders, was appointed a commissioner in the Public Complaint Commission by President Muhammadu Buhari, between 2017 and 2019.

Although the anti-corruption czar remained an ardent supporter of President Buhari, he did not fail to point out areas he believed the administration could improve on, for the betterment of Nigerians.

When our correspondent visited his home in the Demkpe-Wadata area of Makurdi, sympathisers from far and near were seen trooping in their numbers to condole with members of his family.

His first son, Mohammed Tsav, an Abuja-based lawyer, told Daily Trust Saturday that his late father would be greatly missed.

“My father was anything and everything to us. He was very strict and firm. He was transparent and always stood for justice. He never aligned himself with anything negative. I will miss everything about him – his interaction, stories, pieces of advice, jokes and commentaries about virtually any issue,” he said.

Also, one of the late Tsav’s daughters, Dr. Halima said, amidst tears, “He was a good man. He did what was best for us. From an early age he told us that the only thing he could give us was education. He didn’t have so much, but what he had, he gave us in education.

“When we were younger, we went to the best schools in Lagos, although he was a low rank officer then. I didn’t realise that until much later. Recently, when I was waiting to pick my children from school, it just occurred to me that the man must have had so much gut to put us in such schools when he was not at that level. But he did that to give us the best foundation. And it is really helping me today.

“My father was kind. It was after he died that so many people called me to say he paid their school fees. He never told us.  He gave jobs to some graduates.”

Again, his younger brother, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Yusufu Tsav, who is in charge as the area commander of Irrua in Edo State, said his late brother’s dislike for corruption stood tall, even during his days in service.

“My brother was a kind-hearted person. He always wanted to fight for other people. He would not want people to override or cheat others. He was a disciplinarian and hated corrupt practices.

“He did a lot in the days of his service. If you were accused of corruption he would send you behind bars. When he monitored all the roadblocks in the country, he made sure that no policeman collected money on the road. He wanted every policeman to be upright,” he said.

Furthermore, Ibezimako Aghanya, a retired commissioner of police who served in Benue and Kogi states, told our correspondent on phone that the late Tsav was  one of the best breed police officers Nigeria ever produced.

“Tsav would always stick to rules and regulations; that was why some undisciplined people make negative comments about him. He was among the best commissioners of police ever produced in Nigeria. He told the truth and hated corruption. And some people don’t like him for that reason,’ Aghanya said.

Tsav will also be missed by the media as he was a journalist’s ‘news bank.’ Though a retired police officer, he was always ready to comment on critical national issues. And he would stand for the truth, no matter whose ox was gored. For instance, he once appeared at the Human Rights Commission in Abuja and alleged that the police in his state were colluding with criminals to perpetrate extra-judicial killings.

In his petition to the commission, dated December 10, 2013, Tsav claimed that the then commissioner of police in Benue State, Adams Audu, was “too weak” to confront criminal elements.

“The practice in most police stations now is that once a person is arrested and released on bail, the case is forgotten. During our days, we followed each case to its logical conclusion.

“A situation where policemen go out to kill people at the insinuation of criminals, like hunters kill wild animals in the bush, is condemnable,” he stated in the 11-page petition.

The social crusader, as people prefer to call him, once told our correspondent that his actions were driven by honesty.

“Even when I was in service, I believed in honesty, fair play and justice. By virtue of my religion, Islam, I believe in treating people fairly. I don’t take sides with people based on relationship; I rather view the evidences before me, no matter who the person is.

“During that period, I discovered that there were a lot of injustices in the Nigeria police. That was what prompted me to start talking the way I do today. I felt that was the only thing that could save this country,’’ he said in an interview with our correspondent.

Asked if he was threatened at any time as a result of his stand on issues, he said, “Of course, I was threatened severally because I was always referring to corrupt policemen as armed robbers. My boss was not happy with me. They were always complaining about me. Each time policemen who committed corrupt practices were handed to me for investigation, they were not comfortable.

“I made sure I did the right thing. The police dreaded me, not because I was bad, but for the fact that I did the job the way it should be done.

“I don’t have any regret. I believe that anything God wants me to be, I will be. If don’t get anything because of my outspokenness, I don’t care. When the time comes, I will have it.’’

“If it is possible for me to become young again and go back to the police force, I would become more difficult than I was. This is because I have seen the things happening in the police service and in our society that are not right. Again, I do not regret anything because I have played my part and I am now resting.”

He further said in an interview with our correspondent, “You see, we may have a very good Inspector-General of Police who is willing to reform the system, but the people may not be supportive.”

“If I had the opportunity, I would re-establish internal democracy in the police force. If the police had done their job very well from the beginning, there are government officials and politicians who should be in jail today, but they are ruling us.’’

The late Tsav, who hailed from the Tiv-speaking Vandekiya Local Government Area, retired from the Nigeria Police Force on April 27, 1998 as a commissioner in Lagos State, after spending 35 years and nine months in service.

He spent part of his career on criminal investigation, during which he handled sensitive, difficult and important cases, such as the Glory Okon cocaine case, alleged theft of aircraft by two British pilots, Ahmadu Bello University students/police clash, Lawrence Anini and his gang, among many others.

He attended a detective course in Wakefield, U.K in 1967 and had an on-the-job training in criminal investigation. His skill was further developed while working closely with state and prosecuting counsels in all the cases he investigated. At various times, he was the officer-in-charge of the homicide unit, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba; Railway State CID, Kano; 2i/c, Interpol CID, Lagos; officer-in-charge, G.I. Force CID; Prosecution Force CID.

Until his demise, he held the opinion that anyone who threatened him with death for speaking the truth was just wasting his/her time because he never told anybody that he would live forever.

“We shall all die. Scepter and crown shall tumble down and in the dust be equal made. Only the truth can save us. To achieve any reconciliation, we must be prepared to speak the truth,” the late Tsav often quoted.