By Foluso Adelaja, Editor, THE STATEPOST
The Nigeria Police has put the brouhaha of the EndSARS protests and its attendant brutality to its officers behind it and is ready once again to assert its authority as it has the capabilities to checkmate criminals and their activities in the country, says the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun.
Seemingly reading the riot act to criminals in the state, Ajogun warned that "if you think you can promote the industry of crime because there is no more SARS, I want to assure you that police has the capabilities to fight crime to its logical end".
Speaking at the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) of Ogun State Command's investiture of grand patron, patrons and advisers at the Police Officers Mess at GRA, Ibara, Abeokuta during the week, Ajogun recalled nostalgically the good jobs the now abolished Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had done while in existence.
He noted that the Ogun State unit of the defunct SARS was of tremendous assistance to him in the state as he recalled that at his summon, they once nabbed, within a very short time, the seven-man armed robbery gang terrorising Ijebu Ife axis of the state.
However, Ajogun was quick to point out that "SARS is history now" since the youth decried it but noted that the EndSARS episode was precipitated by fake news.
He said that though the police learnt one or two lessons from the debacle, the force had put the whole matter behind it as it has constitutional duties of preventing, detecting and fighting crime in the country to carry out.
The commissioner of police said the EndSARS episode helped to open his eyes to the inherent potentials of the PCRC as a veritable tool of the police to deal with its publics.
He said the PCRC played a major role in the task of limiting the brigandage of the protesters which made the loss recorded in Ogun State to be minimal.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of PCRC in the state, Ven (Dr) Samson Kunle Popoola pointed out that the EndSARS episode has not only stressed the urgency for community policing but it has also reinforced the need to change the profile of the Nigeria Police.
Popoola said the police has to adopt a more friendly posture in its dealings with its publics rather than the use of force.
He noted that the task that should be Paramount to the police now should be how to reorient the force from the traditional mode of enforcement to the modern model of civil and friendly policing obtainable in advanced cultures.
Popoola said the Nigeria Police should henceforth be seen assisting people to cross the road, helping the aged and other chores that portray them as friends of the people.
He urged the general public to cooperate with the police and to spread the mantra of 'Police is your friend' while noting that police is not friend to all but to only law abiding citizens.
Also, in his own goodwill message, the Zone 2 Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Bashiru R. O. Balogun noted that Ogun Command of the PCRC maintained an enviable status among its peers nationwide.
He said from the federal level down to the nadir of PCRC, they are always happy to be associated with Ogun Command.
In all, fifteen dignitaries were honored with the position of grand patron, patrons and advisers at the investiture.
Oba AbdulFatai Akorede Akamo, the Olu of Itori was given the Grand-Patron while four other obas across the state were among the twelve eminent personalities that were made patrons and two others were made advisers of the association.
Some of these personalities include Moruf Afuape, a notable politician and the serving Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state and Prof (Mrs) Chinedum Peace Babalola, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, the only woman among the honorees.
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