Former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Parry Brimah Osayande (rtd), passed away in the early hours of Sunday.
Osayande, who would have turned 89 on Monday, reportedly died at a hospital in Benin City, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Naijaonpoint reports that Osayande’s death was confirmed by the President of the Immaculate Conception College Old Boys’ Association (ICCOBA) Worldwide, Ighodalo Edetanlen, in a statement released on Sunday afternoon.
Osayande, who chaired the PSC from 2008 to 2013, was instrumental in the construction of the commission’s current headquarters in Abuja.
During his tenure, he earned a reputation for courage, integrity, and bluntness in his approach to reforming the Nigerian Police.
Before his retirement, he served as DIG Operations, where he coordinated key assignments, including Nigeria’s participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Namibia, led by retired AIG Ifejika.
‘An Iroko Has Fallen’ – Owoseni
One of his closest aides and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni (rtd), confirmed the death in an emotional tribute.
“A big and mighty Iroko Tree has fallen. Indeed, the quality of humanity has been diminished. The famous Nigerian super cop, DIG Parry Osayande (rtd), has gone into eternal rest. Farewell, Baba!!!” Owoseni wrote.
Owoseni, who once served as Osayande’s Personal Assistant, described him as courageous, principled, and uncompromising in his quest for a better police force.
“He built the Police Service Commission Office in Abuja. Interestingly, late IGP Solomon Arase was the first to occupy the building. Both were prominent Benin sons. They both died on a Sunday. One was 89 (his birthday would have been tomorrow) and the other was 69. They left indelible marks,” he recalled.
Owoseni also noted that Osayande’s bluntness and refusal to bend the truth, even in the face of authority, cost him career advancement but earned him lasting respect.
Beyond his administrative achievements, Osayande was widely respected for his operational brilliance.
He was the Commissioner of Police in Bendel State who led the operations that resulted in the arrest of Nigeria’s most notorious armed robber, Lawrence Anini, in 1986.
He also played a pivotal role in quelling religious uprisings in Bauchi (1990) and Kano (1991), cementing his legacy as a no-nonsense officer.
Owoseni described him as “blunt and transparent to a fault, exceptionally brilliant,” adding: “I doubt if the Nigeria Police Force ever produced an operationally sound officer of his ilk, probably except late DIG John Haruna, his closest friend who died in the Jos police aircraft crash. The power of his pen and command of words were scholastic. He was imposing in deeds and in person. His passion for the Police and to make it a civilised Force is unmatched.”
As a Benin Prince, Osayande combined his royal heritage with a civilised, cosmopolitan outlook. He was revered not only in Edo but across the country for his uncompromising honesty and strong character.
“He was one of the last men standing among his contemporaries, such as late IGP Gambo. His passing marks the end of an era,” Owoseni concluded.
Osayande leaves behind a towering legacy in Nigeria’s law enforcement history. He was recognised with national honours, OFR, CFR, mni, for his service to the country.
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