For 35 years, Alhaja Medinat Ronke Garuba built a reputation as one of Kwara State’s toughest police officers. Colleagues and suspects alike called her the “Iron Lady” because of her uncompromising approach to fighting crime. She says she was the first female police officer in the state to carry an AK-47 rifle and to serve in the Anti-Robbery Section, at a time when crime fighting was considered the exclusive preserve of men. From armed robbery operations to exposing a fake police officer, recovering stolen vehicles and navigating what she describes as victimisation within the Force, the retired Deputy Superintendent of Police reflects on a career marked by courage, controversy and sacrifice. In this interview with Daily Trust, she speaks about her journey, the burden of policing, the loss of her son, and why, despite everything, she has no regrets about wearing the uniform before her retirement as Officer in Charge of Crime. You retired recently after serving for over three decades. Looking back, what inspired you to become a police officer? I joined the Nigeria Police Force on July 1, 1991, because I genuinely loved the job. There was no police officer in my family, either male or female, but I always admired the profession. I wanted to fight crime and stop criminals from terrorising innocent people. I believed that if everyone played a role in protecting society, Nigeria would be a much safer place. Your career appears to have broken several barriers. What would you consider your biggest milestones? I can proudly say I am the first female police officer to carry an AK-47 rifle in Kwara State. I am also the first woman posted to the Anti Robbery Section before it became fully established. Throughout my career, I served in sensitive units and worked mostly with male officers. We carried out operations in villages, arrested armed robbers, recovered firearms and investigated major criminal cases. I never saw myself as competing with men. I simply concentrated on doing my work. Crime investigation is regarded as dangerous even for men. Were you ever afraid? No. Once I accepted the responsibility, I focused on doing it professionally. I never allowed sentiment to influence my work. I did not arrest innocent people, and whenever my investigation showed somebody was innocent, I ensured justice was done. Whatever I achieved was by the grace of Almighty Allah. What was one of the most dangerous operations you participated in? We received intelligence that suspected armed robbers were gathered somewhere. Immediately we got there, they opened fire on us. My team responded, overpowered them, arrested all the suspects and recovered their weapons. While we were returning, an AK 47 inside our vehicle accidentally discharged repeatedly. Some people sustained injuries, but I thank God there was no loss of life. It remains one of the most frightening moments of my career. Did you ever fire your own rifle during any operation? No. Although I followed my men into dangerous operations and always carried my rifle, I never had cause to fire it. Your colleagues and many members of the public called you the “Iron Lady.” How did you earn that reputation? They called me the Iron Lady because I never compromised. I did not protect criminals, cultists or armed robbers. If a case came to me, I handled it according to the law without fear or favour. Many people believed I was wicked, but I was simply a straightforward police officer. Whenever suspects heard that Alhaja Medinat was handling their case, they knew there would be no shortcuts. Did your uncompromising style create enemies within the Force? Some people became uncomfortable because I insisted on professionalism. False allegations were made against me, and some of my transfers were motivated by malice. I was transferred from one formation to another, including the Provost Office, where some people believed difficult officers should be sent. But wherever I was posted, I continued doing my work because I knew I had done nothing wrong. Which case would you describe as the biggest achievement of your career? Exposing a fake police officer. Years earlier, while serving at Oja Oba, I investigated and prosecuted a woman for child theft. Much later, after I returned to Kwara from a brief transfer, I resumed at the State Headquarters and saw the same woman dressed in police uniform with the rank of an inspector. Immediately I recognised her. I informed my superiors that she was an impostor, but nobody believed me because she had just arrived from Abuja. I insisted because I remembered a surgical scar I had seen while searching her during an earlier investigation. I told my superiors that if another female officer searched her and did not find the scar, I would kneel down and apologise. Another senior female officer searched her and confirmed exactly what I had said. She eventually confessed that she was not a genuine police officer. She was detained immediately, a
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