The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, has described the policing job as quite taxing and stressful, saying that both the serving and retired officers deserve commendation for their dedication and daily sacrifice towards protecting life and property across 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, saying that some of them had even been honoured by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu
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 IGP. Other retired officers who were also honoured were former Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) 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 include OC Anti-Kidnapping Unit, SP Shittu Bamidele, SP Gbenga Ademola, SP Balogun Sherrif, ASP Olupona Helen and ASP Jimoh Lasisi, among others.
He said the initiative was in line with the IGP’s efforts to recognise officers who retired after distinguished service.
According to him, spending 35 years in the police was no easy task, given the pressure and risks associated with the profession
The CP said, “We are here to appreciate those that have served this country meritoriously on behalf of the IGP. The IGP had honoured some of them in Abuja, and it behoves us to replicate it here and also honour those that were not in Abuja
“I want to once again specially appreciate the retired officers that are going to be honoured this morning. 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 to you, to honour you.
“It is also a lesson to those of us who 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, we are going to retire one day; we are going to join you as elder statesmen.
“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
“This is a lesson to officers that are still in the service, that 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.