By Chimezie Godfrey
Delta State has got a new police commissioner with extensive tactical-command experience as CP Samuel Etaifo Erale assumes duty as the 25th Commissioner of Police in the state.
Erale, who spent 14 years of his police career in the Police Mobile Force (PMF), including nine years as a squadron commander, succeeds CP Yemi John Oyeniyi as the new head of the Delta State Police Command.
His deployment to Delta State comes after a career spanning tactical operations, criminal investigation, administration, personnel management, community safety and international peace-support operations.
The new commissioner was born on March 2, 1968, at Pedro Police Barracks, Shomolu, Lagos State, and hails from Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which he obtained in 1992.
Erale joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1994 as a member of Course 18 Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police and began his career in Kogi State Command.
His operational exposure was broadened by his participation in the United Nations peace-support mission in Kosovo in 2000.
He subsequently served in several commands and formations, including Kogi, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Osun states, as well as Zone 7 Headquarters and Force Headquarters, Abuja.
His appointments included Personal Assistant to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command; Personal Assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Abuja; Police Mobile Force Provost; Squadron Commander, MOPOL 33, Ekiti State; Squadron Commander, MOPOL 26, Akwa Ibom State; and senior administrative and operational positions at Force Headquarters.
He also served at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, as well as in operational command positions in Bayelsa and Ekiti states.
Erale was Squadron Commander of MOPOL 33, Ekiti State, from 2019 to 2022 and later served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Rivers State Command, from 2022 to 2026.
Before his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Community Safety and Crime Prevention, at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
One of his most recent major national assignments was his deployment as Commissioner of Police in charge of elections during the recently concluded off-cycle governorship election in Osun State, which the Police described as one of the most peaceful and successful elections in recent times.
While undertaking the election assignment, Erale was appointed Commissioner of Police, Delta State, in August 2026.
His professional training includes an Advanced Detective Course in 1999; Small Arms and Explosives Course at the International Law Enforcement Academy, Gaborone, Botswana, in 2005; Tactical Leadership and Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, in 2014; Peace Support Course at the National Defence College in 2015; and Strategic and Senior Command Course in 2021.
He also underwent several specialised training programmes at the MOPOL Training School, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, and the MOPOL Training School, Ende-Hills, Nasarawa State.
Erale is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Institute of Police Studies, where he became a member in 2001.
The Delta State Police Command described the new commissioner as a “tested and trusted operational commander” whose career has been defined by professionalism, discipline, commitment to duty, operational leadership, personnel management and public safety.
Through his various postings, the Command said Erale had acquired considerable experience in operations, administration, criminal investigation, personnel management, community safety and international policing.
The new commissioner is married with children and, outside policing, enjoys badminton and brisk walking.
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