The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is Nigeria’s principal law enforcement institution, responsible for internal security and public order. Since its formal establishment as a unified federal force, the leadership of the NPF has played a pivotal role in sustaining stability through political change. Two figures stand out in the earliest chapter of this history: Louis Orok Edet and Kam Salem. As the first two indigenous Inspectors‑General of Police, their tenures coincide with the formative years of Nigeria’s independence and the challenges of national unity under civilian and military rule.
The First Indigenous Inspector‑General of Police: Louis Orok Edet
Louis Orok Edet was appointed the first indigenous Inspector‑General of Police in 1964, a significant milestone following decades of colonial administration in the Nigeria Police Force. Born in Calabar, Cross River State in 1914, Edet had already built a distinguished career within the force before rising to its highest office.
Edet’s appointment marked the transition from expatriate or colonial leadership to indigenous leadership at the highest level of the police. His tenure lasted from 1964 to 1966, a period still within Nigeria’s First Republic, when the newly independent state was consolidating its institutions.
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During his service as IGP, Edet emphasised professional development within the force and contributed to shaping an organisational culture that reflected Nigeria’s national identity. The Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja is named Louis Edet House in his honour, a lasting memorial to his leadership.
After retirement, Edet continued public service and engaged in social efforts, including work with refugees after the Nigerian Civil War. He died in 1979, leaving a legacy as a foundational figure in Nigeria’s policing history.
Steering the Force Through Crisis: Kam Salem
Kam Salem succeeded Louis Edet as the second indigenous Inspector‑General of Police in 1966 and served until 1975. His tenure is among the longest in the history of the NPF.
Salem’s leadership spanned one of the most turbulent periods in Nigeria’s history. The January 1966 coup occurred during a time of rising political tensions, and the country soon faced military rule and the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). In this environment, national security and public order were paramount concerns.
Under Salem’s command, the police maintained continuity of operations even as executive power shifted to military governance. The police role focused on conventional law enforcement and internal security responsibilities within the broader framework of federal authority. Tempos of national crisis required coordination with other security services, including the military, to uphold civil order across the country.
By the time of his departure in 1975, the Nigeria Police Force remained a functioning national institution.
Nigeria’s Police Force in Context
The office of Inspector‑General of Police is the most senior position in the Nigeria Police Force. Established in 1964 following the federalisation of the police, it carries responsibility for leadership, administration, and operational direction of the force nationwide.
The political environment in which Edet and Salem served shaped their responsibilities. The early post‑independence era was characterised by regional political competition, constitutional adjustments, and eventual military intervention in governance. These circumstances influenced how the police exercised their mandate and worked with other security institutions.
From the outset, the Nigeria Police Force operated as a federal institution with jurisdiction throughout the federation. While structures and policies evolved in subsequent decades, its foundational leadership set important precedents for organisational continuity and national service.
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Legacy of Early Nigerian Police Leadership
Louis Edet and Kam Salem are recognised as central figures in the development of the NPF’s leadership lineage. Edet’s appointment affirmed the capacity of Nigerian officers to lead a national police force, and Salem’s long tenure maintained the institution through political and social upheavals.
Their service underscores the importance of institutional stability in times of national transition. Both maintained the continuity and presence of a central police authority, which later leaders would build upon.
Author’s Note
Louis Orok Edet and Kam Salem stand at the foundation of Nigeria’s modern policing history. Edet’s appointment as the first indigenous Inspector‑General of Police marked a shift from colonial to national leadership, while Salem’s long tenure ensured the Nigeria Police Force remained operational through coups and civil war. Their legacies are defined by continuity, national service, and institutional resilience, and their leadership helped shape a unified police command capable of serving a diverse and evolving nation.
References
Nigeria Police Force “Past Inspectors‑General” official record
National Daily Newspaper list of past IGPs
THISDAYLIVE “Nigeria @ 58: The Nigerian Police from Independence”
