The Delta State Police Command has announced the assumption of duty of CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, psc, mnips, as the 25th Commissioner of Police in the state.
Erale takes over from CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, psc, acipm, mnips, who previously headed the command.
Born on March 2, 1968, at Pedro Police Barracks, Shomolu, Lagos State, the new Delta police commissioner is an indigene of Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1992, and joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1994 as a member of Cadet Course 18, Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Erale began his professional policing career in Kogi State Command and has since accumulated extensive experience in operational policing, administration, criminal investigation, personnel management, community safety and tactical command.
His career has also included international peace-support experience. In 2000, he served as part of the Nigeria Police Force contingent to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, an assignment that broadened his exposure to international policing and peacekeeping operations.
Over the years, he has served in several commands and formations, including Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers State commands, as well as Zone 7 Headquarters and Force Headquarters, Abuja.
His previous appointments include Personal Assistant to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command; Personal Assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, Abuja; and various operational and administrative positions within the Police Mobile Force.
He served extensively in the Police Mobile Force, spending about 14 years in the tactical formation, including nine years as a Squadron Commander.
Among his notable postings were Squadron Commander, MOPOL 33, Ekiti State; Squadron Commander, MOPOL 26, Akwa Ibom State; Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, Osun State Command; and Chief Superintendent of Police, Promotions, at the Office of the Force Secretary, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He also served at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, and held the positions of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Bayelsa State Command; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, Ekiti State Command; and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Rivers State Command, from 2022 to 2026.
Before his promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, Erale served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Community Safety and Crime Prevention, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
His operational experience was further demonstrated when he was deployed as Commissioner of Police in charge of elections during the recently concluded off-cycle elections in Osun State.
The assignment was widely regarded as a significant national security responsibility, given the need to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
While undertaking the national assignment, he was posted in August 2026 to assume command as the 25th Commissioner of Police in Delta State.
Professional Memberships
CP Erale is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Institute of Police Studies, where he obtained the MNIPS qualification in 2001.
Professional Training
He has attended several professional and leadership courses, including the 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; and the Peace Support Course at the National Defence College in 2015.
He also attended the Strategic and Senior Command Course in 2021, as well as various Police Mobile Force training programmes at Ila-Orangun, Osun State, and Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.
With a career spanning several decades, CP Erale is regarded as an experienced operational commander with a professional record covering tactical policing, administration, criminal investigation, personnel management, community safety and international peace-support operations.
The Delta Command expressed confidence that his wealth of experience and leadership exposure would contribute to strengthening policing, public safety and security across the state.
Outside his professional responsibilities, CP Erale is married with children. His leisure interests include badminton and brisk walking.
