The remains of that great daughter of Igbara-Oke Kingdom, ACP Ayodele Fadairo (Nee Salotun), were buried today (18/10/24) in Ikoyi Cemetery, Lagos.

ACP Fadairo, popularly known to her many fans as Aunty Ayo L’alagbon, retired from the Nigeria Police Force more than a decade ago.

Her tomb is now adjacent to the the premises of the 

Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon-Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.

That command is simply known as Alagbon. 

Aunty Ayo served meritoriously there in the course of her distinguished career in the Force.

Legendary highlife muscian, Orlando Owoh, sang about his experience at Alagbon and his encounter with Aunty Ayo among other police officers. It was Orlando who actually registered the sobriquet “Aunty Ayo L’alagbon” in popular consciousness. Orlando paid compliments to Aunty Ayo in the music for her professionalism and humanity as a police officer.   

It was learnt that the organisers of her admirably curated funeral deliberately chose the spot, separated only by a fence from the Alagbon police station, as the resting place of Aunty Ayo.

The well-attended funeral service conducted at the cemetery was preceded earlier in the week by a Service of Songs and a Christian Wake.  

During the Wake yesterday there were testimonies to Aunty Ayo’s remarkable life of impact, selflessness and generosity of spirit.

A colourful reception was later held for guests in Ikeja.

Different groups, donned in the _aso-ebi_ uniform presented guests with lavish souvenirs and food packs. 

Many serving and retired police officers were at Aunty Ayo’s grave side to pay their last respects just as many members her church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM) and others were also there to say farewell to the lady and officer.    

Aunty Ayo was also a noble alumna of the Anglican Grammar School, Igbara-Oke (AGSI). Among the old students of the great school at the occasion were a former president of the AGSI Alumni Association, Chief Wale Taiwo, SAN, and a former national officer of the body, Mr. Dele Oyedokun.

The Igbara-Oke Community in Lagos was, of course, well represented by its members including former Chairman of Igbara-Develoment Council (IDC), Siji Ijogun, and the Chairman of Igbara-Oke Citizens in Lagos, Barrister Toyin Bankole.

Not a few observers of the funeral activities said Aunty Ayo’s was a lesson in living a good life.