11th January, 2022
By Deborah Coker
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, CP Phillip Ogbadu, has donated relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Uhorgua in Edo on Tuesday as part of his promise to the residents.
Ogbadu on 31 Dec led the management of the command to donate food items to the camp. He promised to visit the camp frequently with more items.
He said during the visit: “See our coming here today also as part of needs assessment from us because we didn’t understand the need and enormous responsibility of this place until we got here.
“The number here can make for an army of personnel. In view of this, I will come here, again and again, to help and reach out to you in whatever ways I can.”
Presenting the relief materials which include clothes, and food items, Ogbadu, represented by CSP Joseph Imafidon, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogida Division, said he felt there was no better way to start the New Year than to personally reach out and identify with the IDPs.
He urged the IDPs to remain focused on the “crystal ball” ahead, because there was light at the end of the tunnel.
He noted that though they had become IDPs due to insecurity and insurgency, that has not made them lesser Nigerians, as they are indeed heroes and remained loved by Nigerians.
He gave assurance that the insecurity in the country as well as activities of the insurgents particularly in the North would soon be a thing of the past, adding that the government had achieved tremendous successes in the fight against insecurity and insurgency in recent times.
The CP further admonished those in schools to take their studies seriously and excel as a way of appreciation to the management of the camp.
“I know it is not or has not been easy by the management of this camp feeding this number of IDPs I see here, not to talk of funding your education.
“But they are doing their best, so the least you should do in appreciating them is to take your studies seriously, so as to excel in your studies and become great men and women in the society against all odds.
“That would be the greatest and best gift you would be given to the management of the camp who in spite of every difficulty ensure you go to school”, he said.
He, however, appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians to also reach out in love to the IDPs in Edo in order to better their lives.
Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Coordinator of the IDP camp appreciated the CP for coming back to fulfil his promise to the IDPs.
Folorunsho said that his joy knows no bound having the CP kick-starting the New Year with them by reaching out and identifying with them.
He appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the Edo CP, who could take out time out of his busy schedule to visit the camp.
He also appealed for assistance in the areas of feeding, funding of education for those in tertiary institutions, provision of basic medicals and writing materials for both the education and health facilities in the camp.
“The Edo CP within the last few days has done so much for us, and we say we are very grateful. But we will also greatly appreciate whatever assistance we can get from well-meaning Nigerians because our needs here are exhaustive.
“The children here need to be fed, those in tertiary institutions need funding for their education, they need mattresses here and the girls also need sanitary pads,” the coordinator said.