The Delta State Police Command has announced the assumption of duty of CP Samuel Etaifo Erale as the 25th Commissioner of Police in the State.
Erale succeeds CP Yemi John Oyeniyi, who previously headed the command.
The new commissioner, a native of Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, was born on March 2, 1968, at Pedro Police Barracks, Shomolu, Lagos State.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree 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 the Kogi State Police Command.
According to the command, his career has spanned several operational, administrative, investigative and command positions across a number of police formations and state commands.
He also served under the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2000, gaining international exposure in peacekeeping and peace-support operations.
A significant part of Erale’s career was spent in the Police Mobile Force, where he served for 14 years, including nine years as a squadron commander.
His postings included the Police Mobile Force, Force Headquarters, the Office of the Force Secretary, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, as well as the police commands in Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Kogi states.
He also served at Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja.
Among his notable appointments were Personal Assistant to the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State; 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 various administrative and operational positions at the Force Headquarters.
He served as Squadron Commander, MOPOL 33, Ekiti State, between 2008 and 2013 and again from 2019 to 2022.
He was also Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, in Rivers State from 2022 to 2026 before his deployment to the Force Headquarters as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Community Safety and Crime Prevention.
Erale was deployed as Commissioner of Police for the recently concluded Osun State off-cycle governorship election, where he was saddled with responsibility for election security.
The Delta Command described the election as one of the most peaceful and successful in recent times.
While serving in that national assignment, Erale was posted in August 2026 as the 25th Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command.
The new police chief has attended several professional and tactical 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; Peace Support Course at the National Defence College in 2015; and Strategic and Senior Command Course in 2021.
He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Institute of Police Studies.
The Delta State Police Command described Erale as a “tested and trusted operational commander,” saying his career has been marked by professionalism, discipline, operational leadership, personnel management and commitment to public safety.
The command said his experience covers operations, administration, criminal investigation, personnel management, community safety and international policing.
Erale is married with children. He enjoys badminton and brisk walking in his leisure time.
The new commissioner takes charge of the Delta Command amid the continuing need to strengthen security, crime prevention and community policing across the State.