Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

Jitoboh laid to rest as Jonathan, Diri, Dickson pay tribute

L-R: Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South-South), Basil Idegwu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Mr. Macwen Jitoboh, and widow of late Deputy Inspector General of Police, Moses Jitoboh, Barbara, during her husband’s funeral at Trofani community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday.  Photo: Bayelsa State Government House

L-R: Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Seriake Dickson, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South-South), Basil Idegwu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, Mr. Macwen Jitoboh, and widow of late Deputy Inspector General of Police, Moses Jitoboh, Barbara, during her husband’s funeral at Trofani community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday. Photo: Bayelsa State Government House

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Deputy Inspector General of Police Moses Jitoboh, was interred in his hometown, Trofani, in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Saturday.

Dr Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa State Senator Douye Diri, his predecessor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, as well as the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, were among the prominent individuals at the funeral.

In his tribute, Jonathan recalled how he met the late Jitoboh during his time as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa and hailed him for his diligent service to him and Nigeria. He described his death as very painful but urged his family to take solace in the worthy life he lived. Jonathan recounted how he created the office of Chief Security Officer in the presidency because of the late senior police officer when he became president and needed a soldier as ADC.

He stated that Jitoboh’s legacy of service will be remembered for a long time and prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss. His words: “I saw in him someone with a bright future, who needed to be encouraged. That is why I took him to Abuja as my ADC when I was Vice President.

“I created the office of CSO in the Villa because of Moses. He died at a very young age but we thank God for giving him to us.”

Also speaking, Governor Douye Diri described the late Jitoboh as humble, peaceful, and result-oriented, saying he will be missed not just by his family but by the entire Ijaw nation. Governor Diri stated that when Jitoboh visited him, he urged him to drop his case against the Nigeria Police, but he explained that he did not do it for himself but for the sake of justice, stressing that the late DIG always wanted what was right and just to be done.

Also speaking, Senator Dickson, who disclosed that the late Jitoboh was with him at the Police Academy in Kano, stressed the need for leaders of the Ijaw nation to build men, citing the examples of the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Dr Jonathan, who played prominent roles in the life of the late top police officer.

In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, who was represented by Deputy Inspector General Basil Idegwu, described the late Jitoboh as a courageous, forthright, and disciplined professional. Egbetokun acknowledged that his death would be painful for his family but urged them to take solace in the fact that he lived a successful life and left enduring legacies.

Bishop Peter Leghemo, in a sermon titled “The Greatest Achievement,” said death was inevitable regardless of how good or bad a person was but stressed the need for humans to have their names in the Book of Life.