7th March, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
The Commissioner of Police CP in Edo State, Phillip Ogbadu, on Monday took a bow out of the police force after 34 years in service to his fatherland.
He was pulled out of service at a colorful ceremony held at the Police Training College, Ogida Barracks, in Benin, the State capital.
Ogbadu, who urged police officers to continue in their duty of keeping the state safe, commended the state government for supporting the police to fight crime.
He expressed gratitude to the state government for the support the state police command enjoyed while he was the CP, and for providing a conducive environment for officers of the force to operate.
Ogbadu, who also expressed gratitude to sister security agencies, stressed the need for the proper management of the vigilance group in the state.
“I want to thank God Almighty, the state government, the Benin monarch, traditional rulers and religious leaders for the opportunity to serve in Edo State. It is a privilege of every serving officer to retire successfully,” he said.
An indigene of Anyingba in Kogi state, Ogbadu was commissioned into the police force in 1988 as a cadet officer.
He was deployed as Commissioner of Police in Edo State in 2021, following the promotion and redeployment of CP Babatunde Kokomo.
The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in his remark, commended Philip Ogbadu, for ensuring that citizens in the state live peacefully and sleep safely without fear of being robbed or attacked.
Obaseki, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Osaigbovo Iyoha, noted that since Ogbadu’s assumption of office in 2021, the level of crime rate in the state reduced significantly.
He assured Edo citizens that his administration would sustain and improve on the current state of security by collaborating with the police force and other security agencies.
“You will agree with me that since he was posted to Edo State, it has been peaceful. You will also agree with me that we have had the best and most peaceful Christmas period in over 30 years, and this is as a result of the harmonious relationship between the state government and the security agencies.
“We will be calling on you for your wealth of experience. He has served well and we wish him well in his future endeavors while we await the arrival of a new commissioner of police so he can start where he stopped,” Obaseki said.
Present at the colorful pull out parade were friends, associates and other service chiefs who paid glowing tributes to the outgone CP and congratulated him on his retirement at the stipulated time as demanded by the service.