Pix: Commandant Oluyemi Ibiloye

By Isiaka Mustapha, CEO/Editor-In-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

When the Chronicle Media in Ondo State announced Commandant Oluyemi Joshua Ibiloye as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Security Icon Award, it came as no surprise to security watchers, analysts, and the people of Ondo State who have closely followed his career trajectory. For many, the honour is not only deserved but long overdue, considering the immense sacrifices, sterling contributions, and demonstrable results that Commandant Ibiloye has consistently brought to Nigeria’s internal security architecture, particularly through his role as the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo State.

Commandant Ibiloye’s career has been a beacon of excellence and dedication to duty. In Ondo State, he has repositioned the NSCDC as a credible, proactive, and people-oriented security agency. His leadership has yielded tangible results in combating vandalism of critical national assets, tackling illegal bunkering and oil theft, and addressing various forms of criminality that have posed significant threats to the economy and security of the state. Within the last year alone, his command recorded over 150 arrests related to oil theft and pipeline vandalism, securing more than 80 successful prosecutions in court. These statistics do not only show numbers but highlight his commitment to result-oriented policing and his refusal to treat security as a mere rhetoric.

His efforts have also been felt in crime-prone areas such as Okitipupa, Akure South, and the riverine regions of Ilaje and Ese-Odo where incidents of kidnapping, cult-related violence, and communal clashes have dropped significantly, with intelligence reports showing a reduction of nearly 25 percent in violent crimes across the state in 2024. This decline has been credited to the synergy and intelligence-driven operations initiated under Ibiloye’s leadership, as well as his deliberate collaboration with sister security agencies. His firm belief in inter-agency cooperation has strengthened security operations, improved intelligence sharing, and ensured rapid responses to emergencies that once strained the peace of communities.

What sets Commandant Ibiloye apart is not only his results but also his leadership style. He is a leader who leads by example, instilling discipline and professionalism in the officers under his command. He has consistently introduced capacity-building programmes to enhance the technical knowledge and field efficiency of personnel, from intelligence gathering to rapid response and community engagement. His insistence on integrity and accountability has greatly improved the public perception of the NSCDC in Ondo State, giving the Corps a renewed sense of dignity and credibility. Communities across the state now trust and cooperate with NSCDC officers, a development that has been made possible by his open-door policy and community-driven approach to security management.

His relationship with his superiors also underscores his reliability and competence. The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has on several occasions expressed confidence in Commandant Ibiloye’s abilities, describing him as a dependable officer and one of the Corps’ most outstanding assets. This trust is not misplaced, as Ibiloye has consistently demonstrated the capacity to translate the Commandant General’s vision of a reformed, modernised, and people-centred NSCDC into measurable outcomes at the state level. His operational ingenuity, his reformist zeal, and his loyalty to the Corps’ national mandate all make him a natural choice for recognition.

Beyond arrests and prosecutions, Ibiloye has distinguished himself as a builder of peace through community engagement. He has spearheaded sensitisation programmes in schools, markets, and riverine communities, educating thousands of young people on the dangers of vandalism, cultism, and criminality. In several instances, traditional rulers and community leaders have publicly commended his grassroots initiatives, describing them as the most impactful state-led security outreach in recent years. His ability to win the trust of the people he serves remains one of his most enduring achievements.

It is therefore no surprise that Chronicle Media, in its wisdom, has selected him as the recipient of the 2025 Security Icon Award. This prestigious recognition is more than just a personal honour for Commandant Ibiloye; it is a public acknowledgement of the transformational work he has carried out in safeguarding lives, protecting critical national assets, and strengthening peace in Ondo State. It is also an inspiration to countless officers across the nation, proving that dedication, discipline, and integrity in service do not go unnoticed.

The grand award ceremony, scheduled to hold on Saturday, 23rd August 2025, promises to be a landmark event in Ondo State. The occasion is expected to attract top security chiefs, respected traditional rulers, government functionaries, and dignitaries from within and outside Ondo State, all of whom will gather to celebrate a man whose life of service continues to make the difference between insecurity and stability in the region. The presence of such eminent personalities at the ceremony further underlines the weight and credibility of the honour being bestowed.

Commandant Oluyemi Joshua Ibiloye’s recognition as the 2025 Security Icon is richly deserved. It is a testament to his sterling achievements, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and his unshakable commitment to Nigeria’s security. For Ondo State and indeed Nigeria, this award is both a celebration of past accomplishments and a reminder of the greater heights that still lie ahead for a man whose entire career is defined by selfless service, uncommon dedication, and result-oriented leadership.