Since assuming duty about three weeks ago in Oyo State Police Command, the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, has had baptism of fire, with happenings at Ayete in Ibarapa Zone, Ago Are and Tede in Oke Ogun Zone, and Mapo area in Ibadan metropolis.
But undeterred by the happenings, Onadeko has surged forward in making sure that the state is safe and secure, while lives and property are protected, in the face of brazen onslaught by hardened criminals who indulge in armed robbery, kidnapping, looting, arson and jungle justice.
Knowing that a tree does not make a forest, Onadeko, as a kickstart, decided to get familiar with heads of other security agencies in the state, so that heads could be put together to bring calmness to the state and make people to sleep with their work eyes closed.
This made her to go on familiarisation tours to other security agencies in the state, to fraternise with the heads and seek their cooperation.
First port of call was at the Ibadan headquarters of Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday, January 26, 2021.
The Commissioner of Police met with the Area Controller, Adamu Abdulkadir, who assured her of collaboration and synergy as sister security agencies.
Next was at the office of the Controller of Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command.
In her message, Onadeko solicited for continuous cooperation that had always been between the police and immigration officers, since both agencies are working towards the same goal, to rid the society of criminals and make it safe.
She said that intelligence should be shared on any information that would help the police, while there should be mutual respect between the police and the Immigration.
“Let us join our hands together, so that we will make a mark in Oyo State,” she said.
Responding, the Controller, Babangida Usman, assured Onadeko that the Nigeria Immigration Service would give its best to add to the achievements of the police command.
Receiving the Commissioner of Police with the Controller were Deputy Controllers Adepeju Lawal, Abubakar Shinkafi, Isah Sulaiman, A.T Lawal; Assistant Controllers N.S. Wasir, Rose Adejo; the Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Adetunji, a Superintendent of Immigration and Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Igbekele Benjamin.
On Wednesday, January 27, Onadeko moved to the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, at its headquarters at Odogbo Cantonment, Ibadan, to officially notify the General Officer Commanding, Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje, of her assumption of office in the state command.
She also sought the cooperation of the GOC in tackling the responsibilities that go with her position.
Onadeko, who expressed appreciation towards the Division’s Garrison Commander, who she said had been of help to the state police command through a security outfit in the state, Operation Burst, sought for more synergy between the police and the Army.
She stated further that the support and advice from the GOC became necessary, as challenges come forth all the time.
In his response, Major General Omozoje assured the police commissioner of his full support, saying that he could be called at anytime there is need for it.
Noting that Onadeko’s position would come with its challenges, the GOC said that what she would do, and how she would operate would tell a lot to those who would come after her.
“Being a trailblazer by being the pioneer female commissioner in the state is historical and a landmark achievement.
“It’s a very big responsibility, but I believe you have what it takes to confront it, perform and set a new standard for policing in the state.
“The relationship between the Army and the police has been very cordial. We even worked closely aftermath the EndSARS protests.
“We have been working together, and will continue to do so, because we are all playing on the same field, and we are all working towards the same objective,” Omozoje said.
The GOC also seized the opportunity to enjoin all other heads of security agencies in the state to come together and have meetings outside the security council meeting thst usually holds.
This, according to him, was that though heads of security agencies were in the state, they belong to federal agencies.
“No part of the country is in isolation. What happens in Oyo State has an effect in Edo State. When we have Nigeria in view, then our actions will be right,” he added.
With the GOC were Chief of Staff, 2 Division, K. A. Isoni; Garrison Commander, T.A. Ogunsugba; the Commander, Military Intelligence Brigade, Brigadier General A.A. Adanogu; Brigadier General D.C. Lot and the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Hassan Mohammed, among others.
At the Oyo State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Corps Commander, Uche Chukwurah, congratulated Onadeko on her appointment as Oyo police commissioner.
Saying that Onadeko came at a time there’s fire on the mountain, Chukwurah was of the opinion that everything works for its own good and has its own benefits.
“As women, we are here to make statements that what a man can do, a woman can actually do better. The FRSC and the police are one of a kind.
“The cooperation had always been there, since we were merged and later separated,” the Corps Commander stated.
On the issue of traffic, she spoke of the need to engage the state traffic agency, as she described the acts of motorcycle riders as “terrible.”
Chukwurah said that it had been discussed at the state security council level, adding that stakeholders meeting involving transport union executive members would soon be held to have talks, after which the work of the task force would begin.
“The FRSC and the police will work together to make sure that they comply. We will enforce number plates and licences for okada riders. That’s an aspect we will use to curtail their excesses. It’s so embarrassing,” she lamented.
She also spoke about the excesses of drivers who operate commercially with Nissan Micra cars,
saying that it would be ensured that the state is sanitised, traffic wise.
“We have also got a signal from the Inspector General of Police to swing into action on the use of siren and SPY numbers.
“The SPY numbers are not meant for private car owners. We are expected by the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, to work with the police commissioner to set up a task force, so that we can bring the erring ones to book.
“With the cooperation of the police, we’ll work like the sisters that we are with other agencies.
Also, with the cooperation of the Board Internal Revenue, we’ll ensure that the state is sanitised traffic wise,” Chukwurah added.
The police commissioner was with the state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Barrister Josephine Obi on Thursday, February 4, in her office in Ibadan, where she advocated for joint patrol by security agencies in the state, in order to to rid it of criminal elements indulging in drug use and fomenting trouble.
Onadeko had told Obi that the visit was to intimate the sister agency of her presence, and to seek synergy between the anti-drug agency and the state police command.
She pointed out the security issues at Beere and Mapo areas of Ibadan metropolis, saying that a lot of people there had been engaged in dealing with illicit drugs.
Onadeko enjoined the commander that a raid should be carried out jointly by police and NDLEA, to rid the areas of drug dealers and users.
According to her, “we should have a joint patrol in the area, as ingesting illicit drugs makes those who indulge in it to go haywire and get involved in kidnapping and robbery.
“My visit is for us to strengthen our relationship by working together to make the state safer and more secure.”
Saying that all sister security agencies were working towards the same goal, the police commissioner urged the NDLEA Commander to reach out to any senior officer whenever there is any complaint.
Responding, the NDLEA Commander welcomed the police commissioner and her entourage, saying that it showed the importance placed on security partnership.
“We have always been working with the police.
We are all very important in the security assignment we have.
“We crave your support, as we recognise every arrest of drug barons and dealers. We give acknowledgement,” Obi said.
She appealed to Onadeko that drug-related cases should always be transferred to the NDLEA for smooth process of prosecution or counselling when needed, as an agency saddled with tackling drug-related security issues.
“If drugs are being recovered but not transferred to NDLEA, then we will not get accurate report. It will not reflect true situation on ground. We plead that you transfer arrested cases to us for appropriate action, either for prosecution or counselling,” the NDLEA Commander said further.
Other NDLEA officers who received Onadeko were the Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Christiana Sani; Chief Superintendents of Narcotics,
Ajanaku Baba Toyin and Etido Mbre; as well as the Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Narcotics, Mutiat Okuwobi.
Also at the office of the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Iskilu Abiodun Akinsanya, the state police boss sought for collaboration and cooperation.
Onadeko said that she came to seek the agency’s help, as the state was going through many challenges.
She said: “We need to partner together to make the state safer through cooperation, intelligence and joint patrol.”
Responding, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Akinsanya, said that his command was happy being involved in police work, to ensure the state is safe for everyone to live.
Describing the police commissioner’s coming as a morale booster, the Commandant said that it would send signal to the general public that Police and civil defence are partners in progress.
Thenewsbearer also learnt that the Directors of Department of State Services and National Orientation Agency (NOA) paid courtesy calls on CP Onadeko in her office on Thursday, January 28 and Friday, February 5 respectively.
