TRIBUTE TO DCG IDRIS: THE TEMPORARINESS OF OUR JOURNEY ON EARTH

TRIBUTE TO DCG IDRIS: THE TEMPORARINESS OF OUR JOURNEY ON EARTH

By DSC Livinus Ajuji, psc
Correctional Service Training College, Birnin Kebbi

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

We received the news with a heavy heart. Deputy Controller General Idris has gone. A man who wore the star, who carried the service on his shoulders, who rose from the ranks to the very top echelon of the Nigerian Correctional Service, has answered the final roll call.

The bugle has sounded for the last time. He will not answer parade again.

A SOLDIER OF THE SERVICE HAS FALLEN

Those of us who served under DCG Idris knew him as more than a rank. He was an institution.

He was one of those officers who believed correctional work was not just locking doors, but mending lives. He understood the custodial centre not as a dustbin, but as a workshop for reformation. He mentored many young officers. He was strict where discipline was needed, and compassionate where humanity was needed. That balance is rare.

In staff meetings, he listened. On parade grounds, he inspected. In crisis, he was calm. He wore his rank with humility. He reminded many of us that the uniform is not for oppression, but for service.

Today, that uniform is folded. The cap is placed on the table. The boots are silent. The man who wore them has gone to meet his Creator.

THE LESSON OF THE EMPTY OFFICE

Yesterday, his office was full. Aides knocked, files piled, phone rang, visitors waited, his signature was power. Today, the office is empty. The chair is vacant. The phone is silent. The files will be signed by another hand.

This is the temporariness of our journey on earth.

In the Service, we parade, we pursue promotion, we struggle for posting, we fight for recognition. We say “I am 2IC”, “I am Officer in Charge”, “I am DCG”. But death reminds us that all these are temporary appointments. The only permanent appointment is with death.

DCG Idris attained the second highest rank in the Service. He had the convoy, the orderly, the respect. Yet none of these could stop the angel of death when his time came. He came, he served, he left. Just like that.

What then remains?

Not the rank. Not the star. Not the office.

What remains is what he did with the little time Allah gave him. How many young officers did he encourage? How many inmates did he treat with dignity? How many families did he help? That is what will speak for him at Al Mizan.

THE QUR’AN AND THE REALITY OF TIME

Allah says in Surah Al-Imran 3:185: _”Kullu nafsin za’iqatul maut”_ – Every soul shall taste death.

And in Surah Al-Qasas 28:88, He reminds us: _”Everything will perish except His Face.”_

We correctional officers see death rarely, but we see confinement daily. We lock men who count days, months, years waiting for freedom. But we forget that we too are in a confinement called Dunya, counting days waiting for our own release to the next life. The only difference is that the inmate knows his sentence. We do not know ours. DCG Idris did not know his would end now.

His death is a mirror to all of us in uniform. We think we have time. We postpone our repentance. We postpone forgiving that colleague. We postpone being kind to that inmate. We postpone praying on time because of parade. We say “I will change when I become Controller.” But DCG did not reach retirement. His journey stopped midway.

A MESSAGE TO THE SERVICE

To the Controller General and all senior officers: Let us honour DCG Idris not just with a condolence letter and a minute of silence, but with a reminder to value our people while they are alive.

To my fellow officers: Forgive one another. Yesterday you were quarrelling over duty roster. Today, one of you may not come tomorrow. The Service is too short for malice.

To the young officers: Serve with sincerity. Promotion is from Allah. You may become DCG, you may retire as ASC. Both are temporary. What is permanent is the record of your service to humanity.

To the family of DCG Idris: Your father, husband, brother served Nigeria. He served in a thankless job, in a Service that many look down on, but he served with honour. May Allah comfort you. Your loss is our loss.

FINAL SALUTE

At military funerals, they fire 21 guns and fold the flag. In our correctional tradition, we do a final parade.

So we imagine his final parade.

The parade commander shouts: DCG Idris!

Silence.

Again: DCG Idris!

Silence.

For the third time: DCG Idris!

Silence, and a tear.

He has answered the call of his Creator. He has moved from this temporary custodial centre called earth to the eternal court of Al-Qiyamah.

May Allah forgive his shortcomings. May Allah expand his grave. May Allah make Al-Jannatul Firdaus his final posting, where there is no parade, no promotion, no retirement, only peace.

May Allah comfort the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Adieu, Sir. You served. You finished. You have gone ahead.

We, the living, are still on the queue.

_Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu._

Rest well,