By Kassim Omomia
Supt Usman Hamma, Divisional Police Officer of Nariya Division, one of the finest officers who was wholly committed to the campaign against banditry in Kaduna State, passed on this afternoon. If there was ever an officer who was dedicated, courageous, forthright and fearless, Hamma was one. He was truly a team player.
This was the statement by Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs.
According to him, I call him a team player because of the excellent synergy he built with two other officers (Lt. Gada and Supt. Abubakar Bauranya). They brought this to their work with vigor, energy and tact.
“I first met him at the Rigasa Police Division where he was serving under a Divisional Police Officer. Together we visited dangerous spots around Maguzawa, Barebari, Kwaten Waziri, Kadi and other flash points.
” When bandits troubled Nariya with severity, we stormed the location one evening in the company of the Governor. The Governor appealed for the establishment of Divisional Headquarters and the setting up of a military base.
” Hamma was made the DPO, and another officer Captain Ibrahim headed the military base. The two officers and their men sanitized the area and worked ever so diligently in their jurisdiction”, he said.
The Commissioner said whenever they reached out to him for an emergency, “we were confident he would find a solution. In January 2021, I was away in Asia and got a distress call from a couple that bandits kidnapped their son at Mahuta area of Igabi LGA. It was around 2am. I reached out to the trio and they mobilized swiftly.
“With my knowledge of the terrain, I told the trio that the terrorists were likely to burst out around the Rigasa Link Road and connect with the vast forest behind College of Forestry Mechanization.
“They moved to that location and took cover waiting for the arrival of the evil forces. For sure, they came by and the security forces engaged them ferociously. The young man was rescued unscathed. At around 3:20am, they called with a cheering operational feedback and just past 4am, the parents called expressing deep gratitude.
“This is just one of many positive stories of Hamma in the course of our time together. He impacted our lives in numerous ways. He will always be fondly and gratefully remembered”.
The Commissioner prayed that Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant his soul eternal rest