Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie [1942 -2018]
This country lost another dedicated public servant, top law officer and eminent statesman with the death on Thursday last week, 19, 2018 of Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie. He was 76 years old. Ibrahim Coomassie was the 9th and longest serving Inspector General of Police having served between 1993 and 1999, under Interim National Government [ING] headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan as well as the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The late IGP was born in Katsina Stateon 18 March 1942. He was educated at the Central Elementary School, Katsina in 1950- 52, attended the Middle School, Katsina in 1953-54, the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria, 1956-61 and Barewa College, Zaria, 1962-63. He also attended the Detective Training Course in Wakefield, United Kingdom in 1967, an Overseas Officers’ Course in Police Administration in the USA in 1973, as well as the Police Training School in England in 1975.
Coomassie also attended the Police Staff College, Jos in 1980, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, 1981, and was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC), the highest state organ under the military regime of General Abacha. In 1993, Ibrahim Coomassie was appointed Inspector General of the Nigerian Police [IGP], succeeding Aliyu Atta. Ibrahim Coomassie retired from service and left with the Government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar in May 1999.
A patriot, an elder-statesman, a through-bred professional who was passionate about his country and people, Ibrahim Coomassie made his mark as a public servant, and a respected leader. In August 2004, the Emir of Katsina appointed him to a committee to oversee the development and growth of Jama’atu Nasril Islam’s [JNI] activities in the state and he became a member of the board of trustees and later Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.
He rose to the pinnacle of his career, was a leading and influential voice who regularly highlighted the strategic importance of the Northern region within the larger Nigerian context and sought to correct the negative portrayal of the region. An elder statesman who lived a life worthy of emulation, Coomassie was the Sardauna of Katsina and Garkuwan Hausa of Daura whose progressive role as Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum contributed immensely to the development of the country. A patriotic citizen, Ibrahim Coomassie was an honest, humble and detrabilised Nigerian who exhibited exemplary leadership qualities in different capacities. Having fought with their lives to make sure Nigeria remained one, the deceased would be remembered for his contributions to nation building.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his condolence message said he received the news of the death of the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF with shock and deep sense of loss. He said Nigeria will never forget the excellent leadership the late Coomassie gave to the Nigeria Police Force during the many years he served as IG. He said his thoughts were with late Ibrahim Coomassie’s family and those mourning the demise of the late community leader and fine gentleman. He prayed to Allah to receive his soul and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In September 2008 he suffered serious injuries in a car accident, and spent some time in intensive care. He is survived by one wife, six children and many grand children. Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie was indeed a man of peace. His death is a great loss to the country. We all have a collective duty to keep alive his struggle and campaign for a peaceful and secured country, and we pray to the Almighty Allah to forgive his sins and grant him eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.