Ogun CP honours 39 officers, says policing stressful

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni. Photo: Ogun State Police Command.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Police, Bode Ojajuni, has described the policing job as taxing and stressful, noting that both serving and retired officers deserve commendation for their dedication and daily sacrifice to protect lives and property in the country.

Ojajuni stated this on Monday during the presentation of Commissioner of Police commendation awards to five retired and 34 serving officers of the command held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

The CP said that the officers were honoured for being distinguished in their service to the nation.

Those honoured during the ceremony included DST Anifat Bello, the popular Abeokuta Traffic Officer who retired in August and was also recently honoured by the Inspector General of Police.

Other retired officers who were also honoured were former Special Weapons and Tactics Commander, CSP Salami Murphy; DSP Olaifa Emmanuel; DSP Ayanlola Olatunji and  DST Saanu Johnson.

Some of the 34 serving officers who received the CP’s commendation awards included OC Anti-Kidnapping Unit, SP Shittu Bamidele; SP Gbenga Ademola; SP Balogun Sherrif; ASP Olupona Helen and ASP Jimoh Lasisi.

He said the initiative was in line with the IG’s efforts to recognise officers who retired after distinguished service.
According to him, spending 35 years in the police was not an easy task, given the pressure and risks associated with the profession.

The CP said that “It is not easy to serve for 35 years. Police work is an onerous task. It’s full of anxiety and stress. For you to weather the storm, to put in your best to serve your country diligently, with fame, you cannot just go home like that. We have to bring you back to show appreciation and honour you.

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“And it is our duty to do this for you because those behind us are also watching. If we do not honour you, when we go, they will not honour us, too. So, it’s going to be a generational issue of appreciating ourselves.”

He emphasised that the awards were also to motivate those officers in service to remain diligent and committed.

“It is also a lesson to those of us that are still in service; it will be an encouragement for us to do more. It will spur us to put more into our dedication to serve our country. And with that in mind, too, consciously, that we are going to retire one day, we are going to join you as elder statesmen.

“This is a lesson to officers that are still in the service: whatever you do, at the end of the day, there will be a scorecard. You will be recognised for doing excellently well or averagely well.

“So, it’s my charge to officers that are still in the service to please try their best to perform extraordinarily. Don’t stay at your duty beat alone, schedules alone; try to go extraordinary. It is that extraordinary effort that will distinguish you like the people that we are honouring today.”

Responding on behalf of the retirees, CSP Murphy thanked the Command for the gesture and said they are retired but not tired.

He described Ojajuni as a father, mentor and caregiver, and appreciated serving officers who worked with them during their careers.

“We are retiring today, but I want to assure you that we are not tired. At any point in time that our services to humanity will be required or requested, we are there for the Ogun State Police Command, Nigeria Police and Nigeria at large,” Salami said.