Ogun CP commissions state of the art Area Command office in Sango
By Emmanuel Atokolo
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu has commissioned the rehabilitated Sango Area Command office.
The rehabilitation was facilitated by the Sango Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Musa Mohammed Sani alongside some partner companies costing millions of naira.
The state of the art command centre consists of a new counter and visitors room, Internet, solar power, air-conditioned offices, amongst other things.
CP Alamutu, in his address, recalled that the three-day visit of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun in April was climaxed by the commissioning of the new police command headquarters at Eleweran, Police Complaint Response Unit and an event centre belonging to the police.
“Here I am again today in Sango-Otta for the commissioning of this Area Command headquarters building. The impression I had was to commission a renovation but what I see on ground is beyond renovation,” the CP said.
While commending ACP Mohammed for his giant strides, Alamutu said, “Sincerely, I truly want to extend my appreciation to the Area Commander for his vision, commitment and passion because, by this act, he has left his footprint in the sands of time, and will remain indelible as long as this Area Command exists.
“I personally believe that the police are misrepresented. The mistake some of us in service make is taking the public for granted. This achievement couldn’t have been possible without a cordial relationship between the Area Command and members of the public. Without this cordiality, this project wouldn’t have been possible. The only way to earn the trust of the public is to remain upright,” the state Police Commissioner stated.
Alamutu expressed his appreciation to members of the community and sister security agencies for their support to the police, while craving for their continued support, so as to be able to stem the wave of criminality.
He, however, appealed to officers and men of Ota Area Command to sustain the cordiality, saying, “even though there may be disagreement sometimes, the Area Command is there to listen to you. What cannot be handled at the divisional level can go to the Area Command and can come to me.”
Delivering his goodwill message on behalf of the Olota of Ota, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, the Seriki of Ota, High Chief Olanrewaju Balogun said, “First, I want to apologise for our inability to be here in full force as planned. Something came up beyond our control that affected the whole traditional system. Most of our scheduled functions were cancelled but because the achievement of our Area Commander is not something we can push aside.”
“I would like to thank the CP, our own Egbon, Alamutu. We really appreciate you. We can say we are very lucky in Ota Area Command right from the present CP of Lagos, CP Adegoke Fayoade, when he was here to the time of Monday Agbonika, now to the time of ACP Mohammed Sani.
“When ACP Sani was coming, we said we do not want any Hausa man, we want a Yoruba. And ACP Agbonika said you will really, really enjoy him. We said No. He came to me and said ‘Seriki, please convince Kabiyesi; this is a very good officer they are bringing to Ota.’ Now everything is there for all to see. I have never seen a finer police officer in the whole of when I have been in Ota. I am not saying this because of the structure but for his professionalism and his style of community policing.
“He has opened up all his lines to us and very accessible. He works in conjunction with sister agencies, including the Navy. We have recorded almost zero crimes. I know promotion is the next expectation, but this may be the time we will have an area command headed by a DCP, because we would not allow him to go. This is a structure that will outlive you. You do not look or act as if you are not from this area,” the Seriki of Ota said.
Speaking with NewsDirect when the Publisher/Executive Director, Mr Mathew Ibiyemi alongside members of the management team paid the Area Commander a visit during the rehabilitation recently, ACP Mohammed disclosed that he embarked on the project in line with the agenda of IGP Egbetokun to reform the force and provide better working conditions for the officers in the force.
ACP Mohammed noted that the new facility will better equip command to maintain the peace in the environment and effectively combat crimes.
He also seized the opportunity to encourage companies and individuals to shun crime and partner with the Police in unraveling perpetrators of criminal acts.
The Publisher/Executive Director of Nigerian NewsDirect, Mr Mathew Ibiyemi commended the Area Commander.
He also assured the Area Commander of the continued support of the media house in covering the activities of the command and providing resourceful information to tackle crime.
Earlier, in his welcome address, ACP Mohammed Musa expressed gratitude to the state Commissioner of Police for physically making himself available for the commissioning of “one of the best area command offices in Nigeria.”
He recounted his achievements to include crime control strategy, police/community relations, intelligence-led community policing strategy, improved security ethics/security operatives code of conduct, public trust and “to crown it all, the best befitting area command office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Nigeria.”
The Area Commander was also awarded the “Quintessential Ambassador of the Nigeria Police Force,” presented on behalf of the Crime Puzzle Magazine to the Area Commander, ACP Mohammed Sani Musa, by CP Alamutu.
In his address, a prelude to the award presentation, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Crime Puzzle, Felix Mordi, disclosed that prior to ACP Mohammed’s assumption of office at Ota Area Command as Area Commander, the area was synonymous with such crimes like thuggery, rituals, inter-tribal conflicts, land grabbing, armed robberies and cultism.
