Community Policing: Area F Commander, ACP Okafor Visits Ojodu Police Division, Engages Community Stakeholders • Applauds DPO, CSP Opadola for ‘community friendly approach’
Damenews 
By Oki Samson
The Area Commander of Area Foxtrox, the most strategic command under Lagos State Police Command, ACP Paul Azuka Okafor has drum for more collaborations, community support and information sharing from members of the public in order for the Nigeria Police to police more effectively. This passionate appeal was made when the Area F Commander pays a familiarization and sensitization visit to engage Ojodu community stakeholders at Ojodu Police Division under the leadership of CSP Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Opadola, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
Applauding Ojodu community and Ikeja Federal lawmaker, Rt. Hon. James Faleke for the transformative face-lift and recent commissioning of Ojodu Police Division PCRC Building, Ambulance Bus Station and provision of 20KVA Generator and other projects for Ojodu division, ACP Okafor stated: “I was here some couple of weeks back alongside the Commissioner of Police, CP Fayoade to commission this PCRC building and other projects, where I meant elders here from PCRC, Hon. Faleke and some other eminent citizens of the state and my colleagues here. PCRC and Hon. James Faleke did a lot for us here but we can not stop asking for more, we need more, don’t stop please, you have done well and we need more of your assistance. We are here to serve the people, be ready to assist us too.”
“On the part of our partners and stakeholders, I want to appeal to you to please as a matter of life to please continue to do what you’re doing, without you we can not achieve what we are achieving, the PCRC you have help us to achieve a lot of things, we are partnering and we are in partnership with you and I want to beg you if you see any police man doing what is not right, call the attention of their senior officers, you’re an important part of policing. When a Commissioner of Police is addressing a gathering and any PCRC member is there, he acknowledges your presence because you’re doing awesome things, you’re working with us as a family.”
Emphasizing that ‘the Nigeria Police Force is owned by the people’, ACP Okafor wants Nigerians to add value to Nigeria police instead of reducing it.
‘The police force is willing to serve you. You should also be willing to assist us not only material assistance or logistics support, but we need that moral support from you. There is what we call killer syndrome, when you don’t see what is right but always condemn outrightly, how do you expect that person to come up with the best? How do you expect the person to perform maximally or optimally when all the things you say about the person is you’re so terrible, you’re not worthy to be a human being, you’re not worthy to wear this uniform?’
‘Praise people when they do good and fault them when they go wrong, that balances the equation. I want to appeal to us, we need the public. As partners, you must assist us in seeing something, saying something. Don’t always feel that if we give the policeman information, he will say that you are the person who gave the information. That era is gone, thank God for technology.’
‘At any moment there is an information, if you don’t want to come, do a letter, send it to the DPO or call her directly. She will act on it. Also, you can call me or come to my office. I have an open door but the idea of seeing it and you look the other way and you expect miracle doesn’t work that way. Partnership is when you play your role and I play my own role, we balance it, that is equilibrium.’
“Recently, I was watching a movie shot in Ghana by Ghana police, we have been privileged to have police with them internationally; we have gone on peace keeping mission, we have attended courses together, even in there country, what they show in public is not what they are, we know that, but Nigeria police that has performed creditably well internationally, you see when people are acting movie here, they will do caricature of the Nigeria police with our uniform not worn properly just to ridicule us, we should stop that, let’s promote our own. The Nigeria police force is owned by the people, so we should own it, we should own the police and add value to Nigeria police instead of reducing.”
To policemen and officers in Ojodu Division, ACP Okafor informed: ‘The CP of Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade is always advocating that we should treat people nicely with respect. Let me tell you as I was being posted to Lagos recently, the IGP told me, Okafor go and be nice to people, treat people nicely, he gave us instances of people that treat people nicely and got the reward. Your labour of love will never be in vain. Reach out to people, go extra mile, everyday of your life try to help somebody, everyday make it compulsory to help’.
Hailing the Ojodu DPO, CSP Elizabeth Opadola, ACP Okafor said: ‘Since I assumed duty in Area F Command, she’s being awesome, she’s being wonderful and I take this to heart, you are dutiful and professional I am not saying this to flatter you but, from the bottom of my heart you are dutiful.’
Earlier in her welcome speech, the DPO of Ojodu division, CSP Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Opadola in her welcome address hailed ACP Paul A. Okafor for the familiarization tour noting that the Area Commander in charge of Area Foxtrox Lagos Command ‘is hardworking, courageous and ever willing to render assistance whenever the need arises. You were physically present at the recent projects commissioning and you witnessed the ambience and glamorous accolades showered on
Ojodu Police division. The division so far has witnessed tremendous success on curtailing crime to nipping all forms of crime in the bud.’
‘All this achievement could not have been possible but for your timely and onerous qualitative leadership, mentorship which you exhibited since your assumption of duty as the Area Commander Foxtrox’, she said.
Assuring the Area Commander and other security stakeholders present at the event, Opadola said: ‘The entire Ojodu division will not relent on our oars to ensure that the standard we are currently on will not drop and also promise to always make you proud. The division and the community are currently enjoying a very good relationship. We will continue to discharge our duties professionally to avoid any embarrassment to NPF, your office and the Lagos state command.’
Meanwhile, she called for more support from the Area F Commander. ‘We have some challenges which in essence has to do with manpower. The largest percentage of our personnel are mostly women. I have mentioned to the COMPOL verbally and also in writing. I urge you, therefore to use your good office to assist us in this regard. It is also pertinent that we can still improve on our performance optimally.’
Also, the PCRC Chairman of Ojodu police division, Elder Samuel Ayanfe addressed the Area Commander, ‘We celebrate you and the entire hardworking police management team of Area F command. We pray that the period of your tenure will usher in another level of peace and progress. We salute your courage and steadfastness.’
‘Our administration will remain committed and ensure unwavering support to the DPO and her men always. We appreciate our Margaret Thatcher, our reliable DPO, CSP Opadola O. Elizabeth and all the officers. May the good Lord protect you all.’
Community stakeholders in Ojodu community who were present at the familiarization visit include Alhaji Jayeola, Alhaji Sanni, members of the Ojodu PCRC, Baale of Omole, NURTW leaders, Religious leaders, Seriki of Ojodu, Politicians, Hoteliers, press men, among others.
