CP Idowu Owohunwa on Familiarization Tour to Area P Command, Alagbado, Lagos
…Promised to train Police Officers to work as Professional
The new Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Idowu Owohunwa, a professional Police officer of distinction was in Area ‘P’ Police Command, Alagbado, Lagos on Familiarization Tour on Tuesday 16th May, 2023.
His arrival was announced by the Area Commander of Area ‘P’ Command, ACP Idowu Olanrewaju who officially welcome the Commissioner of Police to the command with a grand parade by the police officers at their parade ground.
According to ACP Idowu Olanrewaju, Area P came into existence on the 6th of March, 2018 to facilitate a more effective coordination and supervision of policing activities within the area.
“Area P Command was created from present Area ‘M’ and it made up of five divisions namely: Alagbado, Ayobo, Ipaja, Meiran and Oke-Odo”
“The three LCDAs namely Mosan Okunola LCDA, Ipaja-Ayobo LCDA and Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA are within Area ‘P’ making it the most populated area in the state with an estimated population of over one million two hundred thousand people ( based on 2006 census)”
“ Area ‘P’ Command organized town hall meeting with stakeholders, synergize with Sister’s agencies, embark on constant raid of black spots by the divisions and joint raids coordinated by area commander”
The area commander also points out some challenges of the command such as short of man power, office accommodations, Arms and ammunition and patrol vehicles. He pleaded on the Commissioner of Police to kindly assist the area command in terms of Arms and Ammunition, patrol vehicles and man-power which would enable the area command to keep crime at it lowest ebb.
The PPRO to Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin who introduced the Commissioner of Police and gave his biography as;
Idowu Owohunwa hail from Kabba, Kogi state and he was commissioned into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Officer on 15th August, 1996.
He emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Cadet Officer in Professional Studies at the Police Academy, Kano.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and Policing from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom (on British Government Chevening Scholarship).
He holds a Diploma in National Security from the Centre for Strategic Studies, Galilee International Management Institute, KibutzMizra, Israel.
He has also attended the Global Peace Operations Initiative Course in Vicenza, Italy; US State Department Law Enforcement Executive Development Programme in Gaborone, Botswana; and the British Council Interaction Leadership Programme (2nd Cohort).
Idowu Owohunwa was the principal staff officer to the IGP.
Owohunwa was a member of the Nigerian Pilot Contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) which was involved in the post-war reform and restructuring of the Liberian National Police (LNP) in 2006.He served as a Staff Officer to the 2006 Alh. Dan Madami-Chaired Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Reform.
A former Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police in the IGP Secretariat, Abuja, he has at various times served as Operations Officer in Ughelli Area Command, Delta State; Personal Assistant to CP (Personnel & Welfare) Force Headquarters, Abuja; 2i/c and Divisional Crime Officer, National Assembly Complex Police Division, Abuja; O/C General Investigation Section (D3), State CID, Lagos State Command; Divisional Police Officer, Eket Division, AkwaIbom State Police Command; and until his appointment as the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, he was the pioneer head of the Intelligence Analysis Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau.
CP Owohunwa appreciates the police and all the stakeholders and call for strategic engagement to allow both the stakeholders and the police to point out their challenges and prover solutions.
According to CAN chairman from Agbado Oke-Odo, he called on CP to make provisions for more equipment to enable the poly to comb the black spots within the command and also requested that the CP should see to the retirement benefits of the police if it can be control by police instead of the outsiders.
Also, High Chief Adebayo Adeyemo,Baale of Oki Kingdom requested for total control of the so call “Hausa” who do not have house and constitute nuisance to their communities. Hon. Mrs. Bola Shobowale, Executive Chairman of Ipaja Ayobo LCDA called on CP to look into the harassment and problem created by the scavengers which are mainly the Hausa boys in Area ’P’ command. She further said, they were everywhere in the night causing great danger on the citizens within the communities in Area ‘P’ Command. Also, she pleaded on CP to equip the police with good vehicles, motor cycles and give them a regular training to befit their job.
Others who also complain on the issues like insecurities, man-power, working tools and welfare to the police are Ayo Orimolade – SLG to Mosan Okunola LCDA, Mr.Patric- POCACOV leader, Pastor Oduwole, M.A Keheinde- Abesan Estate Resident and Abayomi Mustapha – Joint CDA Chairman.
The police on their side also requested and pleaded to the CP to help the area command. According to CSP Ajibade Olugbenga DPO Ipaja, he said, patrol vehicles are their major challenge and if enough provisions are made, the command will do more great work. Also, CSP Sholla Omilade DPO of Alagbado called on the stakeholders and communities to give right information to the police to do effective job and whenever there is any kind of distress or issues, they should call the police on time. The session ended with Akinlade James – head of Crime department at area ‘P’ command who appreciate the CP for his love and called on the parents to control their children especially those who are involved in smoking dangerous substances and create menaces in the communities.
CP Owohunwa commended all the stakeholders and police officers in Area ‘P’ Command and promised them that things will change for better.
According to CP Owohunwa, government cannot fully fund security, only Lagos State has the best architecture of Police Trust Fund which is a plus to the State command and the police in Lagos also have other agencies supporting their activities such as Neighborhood Core, LASTMA, RRS, Taskforce and KAI. These are layers of Police by Lagos State to guarantee security at all level.
“ I have informed the IG that Lagos State should be prioritized in terms of provisions of security assets. All divisions were recently received Police disorder assets”
“My prayer is that the innocent citizens should not die during my time, therefore provision of guns is deemphasized”.
“The Inspector General of Police has embarked on renovation of distressed barracks and this will be done in phases. While this is ongoing, affected police officers will be given 2 years rent pending the completion of the barracks”.
“Work is ongoing on the exit from contribution pension. A bill is at the Senate currently. We hope the bill will be passed so that police will handle their affairs instead of outsiders”.
“Concerns of infiltration of scavengers, Tribe should not determine discipline and the Hausa community and other major stakeholders should be summoned and be engaged to avoid inter community crisis”.
On the issue of Training of personnel, the CP said he was in contact with stakeholders of security and the training will commence soon and it will be fully funded by the Police.
The training will be for the Police and the community.
CP Owohunwa also noted that what motivates man slaughter is drugs, cultism etc. Assuring that a special unit has been formulated away from the police stations and offenders will be charged to court. He wants the judiciary to compliment and warned citizens not to advance injustice but curb injustice.
He emphasized that any Police involved in commercial transport activities in police uniform will be grossly disciplined. Also promised that Armoured vehicles are very expensive to maintained and those that are faulty, When repaired they will be returned to their former places.
Community Policing is all stakeholders responsibility. The Obas, religious leaders, PCRC, LGA etc and in case of any eventualities in our community, Police patrol team has response time of 5-10minutes to all distress calls and help will come.
“ Every sectors must support police to work and create enabling environment.. see something, say something”
CP Owohunwa finally made it known that;
“It is the duties and responsibilities of the parents to take parental obligations on their children and not the job of the police while emphasizing that nothing is bad for police to be friendly or relate to the public, police is a friend to all and if anyone find guilty of the law, the police will treat such as an offender. The Agberos can be important in terms of information gathering. They will be policed like other citizens as Respect begets respect. Report Police bad conduct to the superior officers, a Police man offend you and you slap him. Justice will take it's course”.
“Police is well discipline and has a process of discipline. Citizens must respect the police and on the other hand, police should also respect the citizens”.
CP Owohunwa appreciates the Executive Chairman of Ipaja Ayobo LCDA and request for support in the area of equipment to the command.
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