Tears as Lanre Jimoh dies at 56, buried in Ilorin

By Mumini AbdulKareem and Sulyman Jimoh
It was an atmosphere of tears, sorrow and betrayal of emotions at the residence of the late Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Jimoh AbdulKadir who died on Friday in Calabar after a brief illness.
He was age 56 and survived by Wife, Hon Segilola and three children, two males and one female.
News of his demise went viral on many social platforms in the state as sympathizers in their numbers trouped to his GRA residence to condole with his family over the incident.
His interment according to Islamic rites was eventually held on Saturday after some logistic hitches regarding the transportation of his body from Calabar to Ilorin by road.
Many of the sympathizers who cut across the political, government, social and religious circles wore gloomy faces and were in sober mood talking in hush tones when National Pilot visited on Friday.
Others however openly betrayed emotions and continuously weep while praying for the repose of the soul of the late cop.
Some of them who to National Pilot with heavy eyes expressed their sadness and distaste at the sudden demise of the late Lanre Jimoh, popularly known as “Lanre Olopa” among his contemporaries.
Early callers at the deceased residence include the first Makama of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye Oniye, immediate Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, former Nigeria Ambassador to Japan, Prof Yisa Gana, Kwara State Commissioner for Communication, Mrs Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin and Special Adviser Special Duties to Kwara Governor, Yinka Aluko and the owner of KAM Industries Ltd, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf among others.
The body arrived the residence at exactly 2:15 pm in white M240A Mercedes Benz Sunray Ambulance Bus and lowered into his grave around 2:55pm at his residence
According to one of his sons, Mahmud, “This is a shock to me and my family, he was good man, the number of people here is a testament to that, he was a philanthropist he was not the richest but he did what he can for at least Ilorin emirate. He helped so many people, even with the nature of his job, as a public servant, as a police officer and even so many people that work with him can testify to his character as a great officer.
It’s a real loss not only to my family but to Ilorin emirate and Kwara state at large, he did his most for everyone, his family and others, even those that are not related to him.
“He was ill briefly and was already recuperating but all of a sudden I got a call that he was dead at around 10 am on Friday. I will encourage people to emulate his generosity and philanthropy. But we his children will try and keep up his legacy and continue from where he stopped’, he added
In his sermon at the grave side, the officiating Imam, Mukadam Abubakar Salman prayed for the repose of his soul adding that the deceased was born and died a Muslim and lived a life of service and selflessness.
In his condolence message, former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki described the late CP’s death as a great loss not only to his family and friends but Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State and the Nigeria Police Force which he served meritoriously for many years.
The statement said “It is my hope and prayer that CP Jimoh will always be remembered for his dedication to his primary duty to serve and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and his commitment to making the police better. He will be sorely missed”. Saraki prayed Almighty Allah forgive his misdeeds and preserve for him a special place in Aljannah Firdaus.
Similarly, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River also expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Police boss, describing his passing as a great loss to the state, country and the Force.
Ayade, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, said Jimoh was “a brave and courageous officer, who was a central figure in the fight against crime…You were a hero in our relentless quest to ensure peace. Your gallantry and bravery will remain an enduring memory as we mourn your sudden demise. You kept us safe and gave us your all. We will forever remember you for your courage and bravery. Nothing will fill the void your passing has created, especially in our fight against criminality… late Jimoh’s skills, dexterity, intellect and expertise will be sorely missed”, he noted.

What Kwarans said about him
Death extremely painful – Razak Atunwa: The death of CP Lanre Jimoh is extremely painful. He was a straightforward and honest man. Mild mannered and good natured. May Allah grant his soul jannatul firdaus and grant his wife, family, friends and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.
He was community leader per excellence – Alhaji Abiodun Baraje: His demise is a great loss to the entire Ilorin Emirate, Kwara and Nigeria in general because he is a man of integrity and loved by people who had serve meritoriously in the police force to the rank of CP. He is very diligent to his work, a good family man and community leader and we pray Almighty Allah grant the family, the entire Ilorin emirate and the Muslim Ummah comfort for the great loss.
Alhaji Kayode Yusuf Maja – He was well respected in Emirate: “He is a fantastic man and a loyal member of the Saraki dynasty. We recalled that the last trip he made was with Bukola Saraki when he came with the leader for late Baba Oloye’s yearly prayer. He was very close to Yinka Aluko and a responsible and respected citizen of Ilorin, may Almighty Allah continue to give the family the best, forgive him his sins and reward him with Paradise.
Danmairomu – Irreparable loss: The emirate, state and country at large have lost a rare gem but we all know that Allah knows best. Whatever comes one way, we should be faithful and accept it. But we’re not happy at all because this is the right time to benefit from him after he has laboured so much in his profession and he has gotten to a stage for him to begin to assist people and death snatched him away from us. May Allah place him in Al-Jannatuh firdaus and give his family fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
He bought first vehicle – ISBON Chief Imam, Alhaji Idris Sulyman Omodele: “Wallahi, he was a good man that is very open to his family members and always render assistance to the Muslim community. He is always ready to help people and contributed immensely to the construction of our mosque, bought our first vehicle at ISBON. He has a good narrative among the people and we pray that the narratives are what he will meet on the day of Qiyamah. This is an admonition to everyone that death will surely be the end of every creation.
Sulaiman Atolagbe Alege Kwara former Health Commissioner – A community, family man
The death of CP Abdulkadir Jimoh is very shocking to every Kwaran and Nigeria. He was a gallant officer and somebody that is ready to help and support both the family and Ilorin emirate. It’s shocking to all of us, he is somebody that is always there for people financially and morally. You wouldn’t know he is a police officer by the way he interacts with people, he is jovial but he knows his work. To the Emirate, to the Nigerian Police and to the country, he will be solely missed. We always chat everyday, my last discussion with him was about some people he wanted to support within the Emirate to dig a borehole in a place within his community and he was seeking my opinion on the Indians he wanted to award the contract to. The Imam of that community informed me that had done it.
He is a core philanthropist – Sheikh AbdulRazaq Adam Thani: This is a fulfillment of Allah’s promise, Alhaji Lanre’s demise is really shocking to us, but we believe every occurrences happen by the leave of Allah. Alhaji Lanre is religious, honest and philanthropist, which is what Islam preaches. May Allah forgive him and be please with him, protect those he left behind”.
Its devastating – Hajia Rahmatallahi Oganija, Kwara PDP Women Leader: “I don’t know how to comment, in fact I’m so devastated, unhappy and the whole Kwara are not happy. We have nothing but Almighty Allah, He gives and He takes, He has taken the life of our brother to the highest place, we believe that he will be honoured with Jannatuh firdaus. Its not easy for us to bear but we just have to accept the will of Allah.
Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina. Kwara Central, PDP chairman – He was Kwara shining light: “He is our little brother, we’re really shell-shocked, he is our shining light in Kwara, now that God took him away from us, there is nothing we can do about it. We pray that God forgive his misdeed and may we all have long lives and may Ilorin continue to prosper.
Nasir Zubair – Lover of his Community”: “Apart from the fact that he is a policeman, he was a lover of everybody in his community, easy going and ensure he assist you. His principle is to always check on people who has not heard for some days. What you are seeing here shows he is more than a police man. If he was just the a normal police officer that we know in Nigeria today, wallahi some people will rejoice at his demise but this is different.
Bello Amusa, Ex-SA security- Very Effective, Hardworking: “Late CP Lanre Jimoh was my colleague in the police, he was very effective, very hardworking, it’s  just most unfortunate he died in service, he did not live to enjoy fruit of his labour, we pray to almighty Allah to grant his soul a perfect peace, the state has lost a proficient officer, the vacuum that has been created will be very difficult to fill, we pray that almighty Allah will grant him Al jannah firdaus”.
Makama of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye – A committed Muslim: “The little that we can say is that he was a complete gentleman and committed Muslim. Loyal to us. Well Allah knows best, but among the family and we leave our matter to Him. Only Allah can compensate him and may he be granted Paradise.
Amb Yisa Gana – Disciplined and competent officer: This is a great loss, not only to the family but to the people of Ilorin, to Kwara state and Nigeria. We’ll all miss him as a fine, disciplined and competent officer. What is important for us is to pray that God accept him and find him a place in Al jannah firdaus. Character like his, people need to emulate him, his professional conduct, his relationship with people. We all have to take heart believing that this is a fulfillment of almighty Allah’s promise.
Hon. Ali Ahmad, former Speaker – “He didn’t cultivate enemies”: I knew him to be a very dutiful person, he had passion for his work, he never cared whether he was rewarded in any form or shape, he just went on with his duty, day and night and when his last position came in, we all rejoiced but Allah knows better, He has the best reward for him. May Allah reward him for his service for humanity, the nation, love for family and humanity. We all should learn this from him. He was forward and didn’t have this long ambition for work, he took life a day at a time and when you do that, this is what you stand to reap. He didn’t cultivate enemies even if he had some but everybody was his friend and I have never seen him get angry and he went about his official private businesses without rancor. I believe he will be with Allah.
Shola Muse – His death very sad: “We in the emirate are in a very great loss, we lost a brother who was very useful to the Ilorin Emirate in general. He’s going to create a big vacuum in view of a lot of things he has planned to impact positively on the children of Ilorin. His death is very sad and in fact there is nothing we can do than to beg God to give him eternal rest and reward him with Al Jannah Firdaus”.