ACP Bayonle Sulaiman, Area F Commander, On A Familiarization Tour, Visits Alausa Division, Affirms Okada Ban In Alausa, and Directs Officers Not to Release Any Impounded Okada
••• DPO, CSP Opadola, Appeals For More Support For Alausa Police Division As The Most Sensitive Division
By People’s Voice Nigeria | News
In his continued visit to all divisions under the Area F Command, ACP Bayo Sulaiman has visited the Alausa Police Division under the able leadership of CSP Elizabeth Opadola. The visit was also to interact with stakeholders in the community as a way of knowing how best to police the environment. He also used the opportunity to affirm the enforcement of the okada ban in some parts of Lagos, including Alausa, in response to concerns raised by the Alausa community, noting that the government didn’t relax the ban.
The stakeholders who attended the parley, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report, included the Chairman of PCRC in Alausa, Mr. Oluwaniyi Oyeniyi, Pastor Minimah, the Chief Security Officer of Grand Square, Anthony Azuh, General Manager of Addas Mall and High Points Event Centre, Mr. George Ukwunna, Head of Human Resources and Admin, Daystar Christian Centre, Mrs. Amara Ugochukwu, Head, Security Department, Daystar Christian Centre, Mr. Remi David, Chief Security Officer of RCCG Israel Assembly, Mr. Adewale Leonard, Security Manager, Coca Cola, Akingbade Aderemi, Security Officer, 7up Bottling Company, Abe Samson, Mr. Opakunle Sunday of Royal Estate, Mr. Monday Enang of Anxin Industrial Technology Nigeria LTD, as well as officers under the Alausa Division.
In his address to the stakeholders and police officers under the Alausa division, the Area Commander, Area F, ACP Bayo Sulaiman said: “The area command has stayed by its mandate, mission, and vision for zero tolerance for crime and corruption and respect for human rights. We assure the training and retraining of our personnel for crime detection, crime prevention, and community engagement. May I take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to our Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government for the moral and material support we have enjoyed. I would also appreciate the invaluable contribution of our amiable, dynamic IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, who during the short time of his appointment has helped to reposition the Nigeria Police for better policing”
He thanked the stakeholders and the community at large. “On behalf of Alausa Division, I will like to thank you for the unalloyed support we have enjoyed since its creation and your continued support of this safe haven for all law-abiding citizens of this community. On our part, we pledge the unalloyed cooperation of the Nigeria Police to the Nigerian nation. I am here to interact and get feedback from members of the public. I want to hear what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. Police officers can also talk.”
On her part, the DPO of Alausa Division, CSP Oluwatoyin Elizabeth Opadola, noted that since the assumption of office as Area F Commander, “he has been hardworking, supportive, courageous, and ever willing to render assistance when the need arises.”
“Alausa Division is the most sensitive division, sited in a strategic location close to the seat of power of the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State House of Assembly, the business district, companies, banks, event centres, etc. The division has witnessed continued success and is committed to nipping all forms of crime in the bud. All these wouldn’t have been possible without your timely and qualitative leadership and mentoring, which you have exhibited since your assumption of duty’, NAOSNP gathered.
The excellent operational and well-spoken cop, CSP Opadola, mentioned the challenge that the division is experiencing: “The challenge of the division now is traffic gridlock as a result of the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway (outward axis) and provision of okada, which will assist in curbing crime and management of traffic. Also, use your good office to ensure increased manpower to continue the peace that the division and community are enjoying. The relationship between the Division and the community is cordial. We assure you that we will continue to discharge our duties professionally to avoid any embarrassment to NPF, your office, or the Lagos State Command”.
The Chairman of PCRC in Alausa, Mr. Oluwaniyi Oyeniyi, said: “Police force is service to the nation, service to God. Jesus Christ came and died for humanity. The police came to collaborate and cooperate to serve humanity. It is not easy to be a police officer; when others are sleeping, you are awake to superintend over the security of lives and properties. In the process, many people who are against the law will want to attack you, even to the point of taking your life, but God always stands for those who serve faithfully.”
The Alausa PCRC Chairman, who doubles as Treasurer of PCRC Area F Command, added: “I stand to say that the police are truly our friends.” Even when the Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, He had Judas, but there were still 11 faithful apostles, so we cannot castigate all officers because of the Judases among them. Many of them are ready to deliver. God will be with you, our ACP. I want to tell you that you will come and commission our project this September 2023.”
A member of the PCRC revealed the need for more vehicles and okada to go around the areas covered by Alausa Division, including the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The CSO of Grand Square, Anthony Azuh, shared some policing challenges in the area. “What makes up effective policing is patrol. Sometimes, along Mobolaji Johnson Road, there used to be RRS stationed there 24/7, protecting the surrounding area. Also on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the patrol keeps away miscreants. But I notice that the structure is no longer there; kidnappers now come there, and robbers rob and get victims injured. Whatever has happened to the patrol should be restored. Because of the go-slow on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, we notice that between Conoil and Total, there are criminals who lynch our workers and passers-by. On the other side of Magodo is their domain.”
A police officer in the Alausa division told the Area Commander, “You are welcome to the Alausa division. We have problems with Okada people around the 2nd gate in Ogba who come to trouble this side. Let the Pen Cinema people stop them; let the people of Ketu stop them before they come here.”
Also speaking, Pastor Adewale Minimah remarked, “I want to commend the DPO. There is no time that anyone comes here that she doesn’t listen to us. She is on the ground for us. I want to thank the officers here; they always come to our rescue when we need them. Our officers deserve promotion.”
In his response to some observations and questions from members of the public, ACP Bayo Sulaiman shared that recruitment is ongoing. More men will be added to the Alausa division. Since I came, eight men have been added, and we will add more. The issue of the removal of patrol vehicles around 7up and Mobalaji Johnson Road will be taken to the CP and RRS Commander. I will give my phone number for SMS so that people who enquire will give feedback if action has been taken or not. On the issue of okada from Pencinema and Ketu, I will speak with the Area Commander so that he can talk to the 2 divisions so that they can block the road that gives them access to this place. But any okada you impound, don’t release it. The state government has exercised enforcement on the ban of okada in this area.”
