NIIA, Ikoyi PCRC Honour Policemen For Crime Control

The Police Community Relations Committee,PCRC, of Bar Beach Police division, Victoria Island, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, recently celebrated its exemplary police community partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

They also used occasion to honour deserving members and police officers within the ranks and files who have contributed immensely to the success of the Bar Beach Police Division in the fight against crime and criminal elements.

The ceremony with the theme: “Celebration Of Effective Police Community Relationship”, took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos and was anchored by Ambassador Alarm Blow .

Dignitaries in attendance included the Director General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinteriwa; Dr. Ona Ekhomu, Chief Philip Osiodu, Chairman, Bar Beach Police PCRC, Prince Eddy Ugbodaga; Mr. Effiong Okon, Prince James Eniola Dakobiri and a host of others.

Speaking at the event, Prince Ugbodaga said; “The event is part of our strategy to bring policing in our community closer.

“In the past few years, particularly, in the tenure of the incumbent Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adegoke Fayaode, we have seen the level of policing being raised from combating crime to crime prevention, from reactive to preemptive. There has been infrastructural development like a new boreholes and construction of additional offices and rest room accommodation.

“The Bar Beach Police Divisional Headquarters has a CCTV coverage monitored from the office of the DPO. We will continue to do our best,” he stated.

In his speech, Prof. Bola Akinteriwa said the award ceremony raises the important issue of rewarding patriotic efforts in the quest for peace. “It is laudable because members of the Nigeria Police Force are wrongly perceived to be bad people.

“The offence of any one of them is always visited on all of them; thus giving the erroneous belief that nothing good can come out of the Nigeria Police. We are here to celebrate the goodness in the Nigeria policemen that have shown dedication in their service to the nation.

“I admit that the many allegations levelled against the policemen in Nigeria can be justified to an extent. For instance, there is no reason disputing the fact that a complainant easily becomes the accused. People have trusted the policemen by reporting the activities of hoodlums, but the hoodlums have gone back to tell the informant of what he had said to the police.

“In spite of all these, it is still wrong to paint the police in bad light. What difference is there (if any) between the extortion of N20 or N50 by policemen and the multi-million pen robberies and the extortions by other public officials.?

“In deed policemen are not spirits, they are certainly not. Rather, they are just ordinary human being like every other Nigerian,” he stressed.

At the ceremony, 10 senior police officers, prominent leaders in the society were rewarded with Platinum and Gold Awards, while about 43 other police officers at the Bar Beach Police division were honoured with certificates in addition to a N20,000 cash.

In his remarks, the DPO of Bar Beach, CSP Adegote Fayoade, said since the introduction of a strategic crime prevention and control project tagged “Seven Cities”, all forms of insecurity associated with Victoria Island and its environs have largely disappeared.

“We have been consistent and untiring in our crime fighting strategies. Notable crime such as burglary and stealing, house breaking, okada robbery, car snatching and removal from parks and bank robberies have all been tamed.

“We have made breakthroughs in the arrest of suspects, fraudsters, NITEL and NEPA cable thieves. Similarly, assorted arms and ammunition were recovered.

“Notably was the recovery of four AK 49 military rifles, 23 loaded and 254 unloaded magazines from robbers who exchanged fire with my men. Two of the robbers fell to the fire power of my men.

“We will not rest on our oars in our bid to ensure safe environment in Victoria Island,” he pledged.

—Paul Iyoghojie