Their joy knew no bounds as family, friends, retired and serving police officers, journalists joined the ‘Mama Teresa of Nigeria Police’ AIG Yetunde Longe in double celebration as she clocked 60 and also retired with grace and poise out of service to the fatherland. For Nigeria’s first female Force Secretary, AIG Yetunde Longe, it’s a day of Thanksgiving for her to reach the peak of hee career in peace, health, wellness, and her family together. She sang melodiously, danced gleefully, and rejoiced heartily for the great privilege she enjoyed from the Lord Almighty.With this development, Yetunde Longe also joins her husband, AIG Longe who retired meritoriously some years ago.
The Longes are one of the few power couples in the Nigeria Police Force and they are very impactful in and outside of the Nigeria Police Force.
The birthday reception was a gathering of who is who in the Nigeria Police, serving and retired, dignitaries from all walks of life, private security experts, media executives, friends and families of the Longes among others. The toast of the birthday party was coordinated by DIG Bode Adeleke (retd). In attendance were the Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan; the LSSTF CEO, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, among others.
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan speaking on the personality of AIG Yetunde Longe (retd) noted that ‘she is a magnificent woman who has done tremendously for the Nigeria Police and is a sterling example of an upright life of a female police officer who is doing well career-wise and family-wise. I dare say that women, within and outside the Force, have a lot to learn about her successes. I wish her the best as she steps into other aspects of life post-service’
Reflecting on her time in the Nigeria Police, the celebrant, AIG Yetunde Longe (retd) who is the first female Force Secretary secretary of the Nigeria Police shared: ‘As I look back on my career, I am humble by the trust and confidence that has been placed in me and I am proud of the contribution I have made to the Nigeria police force, I am thankful for the support of my fellow officers, the guidance of my superiors, like DIG Lakano, AIG Shodipo and others and the love and support of my families and friends who have stood by me through thick and thin.”As I also embark on a new chapter in my life, I do so with a sense of optimism, excitement and readiness for whatever challenges and opportunities that lies ahead, I will carry with me the values and principle installed in me throughout my year In the service, integrity and excellence that have guided me throughout my career, to my colleagues and friends I say a huge thank you for your friendship, support and comradeship and to my superiors and mentors I express my unflinching gratitude for your guidance and wisdom and leadership, particularly his royal majesty Oba Riliwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu 1 the Oba of Lagos for his encouragement, not only to enlist into Nigeria police force but also flower and to flourish and this has offered me the opportunity of meeting my husband AIG Kehinde Patrick Longe retired, and given a sister a retired ACP Ayodele Dorcas Fadairo aunty Ayo I love you and to my family I offer my deepest love, my children, my sister, my brother, my in-laws who has become my brother, especially mummy Longe I love you all. I offer my deepest love and appreciation and thanks for standing by me every step of the way, the Disu family thank you very much.’
Expressing her gratitude to the Police, she also thanked the no. 1 cop, IGP Kayode Egbetokun. ‘I am proud to be part of the Nigeria police force and I will always cherish the memories and bound formed during my time in the service, as I retire today, I do so with a heart full of gratitude, a mind fill with cherished experience and a spirit couched with the next chapter, thank you all for your support, your friendship and dedication. I’ll always hold the Nigeria police force close to my heart, I am once again indeed grateful for the opportunity to have served my country with honor and pride.’I will also like to seize this opportunity to express my appreciation to our inspector general of police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PHD, MPM for considering me worthy to be the first secretary in this modern era it is marvelous in my eyes and I’ll always remain internal grateful, for the unique honor done to me by the extension, my lovely husband I say thank you, in fact words are not enough to express my joy, this singular appointment is an eloquent testimony to the incl of the IGP to the female gender, and I’ll not be making mountain out of no heels by describing the IGP as a he for she officer.’
‘In the same manner I equally enjoined the IGP to kindly consider more women for position of authority, the woman who are often refer to as mother of the nation, will be able to contribute their quota in this one love start of nation building. Thank you Nigeria Police Force for the opportunity to serve, thank you to the privilege of serving you Nigeria, thank you almighty God for being a gracious God, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria, long live the Nigeria Police Force,’ Yetunde Longe concluded.