Ogun Police Command Decorates 39 Officers, Retired and Serving, With Commendation Awards

Thirty-nine personnel of the Ogun State Police Command have received commendation awards from the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, in recognition of distinguished service. The group comprised five officers who have retired and 34 who remain on active duty.

The presentation took place on Monday at the Police Officers' Mess, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta. Speaking at the event, Ojajuni said policing places heavy demands on those who practise it, describing the work as both taxing and stressful, and argued that officers deserve recognition whether they are still serving or have left the force, given the sacrifices they make daily to safeguard lives and property nationwide.

According to the CP, the awards align with efforts by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to celebrate officers who bow out after exemplary careers. He noted that a number of those decorated had already been recognised by the IGP.

Among the recipients was DST Anifat Bello, the well-known Abeokuta traffic officer who bowed out in August and was recently honoured by the IGP. The other retirees recognised were CSP Salami Murphy, a former Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, DSP Olaifa Emmanuel, DSP Ayanlola Olatunji and DST Saanu Johnson.

On the serving side, those who collected the CP's commendation awards included SP Shittu Bamidele, who heads the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, alongside SP Gbenga Ademola, SP Balogun Sherrif, ASP Olupona Helen and ASP Jimoh Lasisi, among others.

Ojajuni observed that remaining in the police for 35 years is no small achievement, particularly given the pressures and dangers that come with the job.

He 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."

The CP added, "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."

He continued, "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."

According to him, the ceremony also carries a message for those still in uniform. "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."

He explained that honouring retirees sets a precedent for future generations of officers. "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."

Ojajuni stressed that every officer's record will eventually be assessed. "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."

He urged serving personnel to aim beyond the minimum. "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."

CSP Murphy spoke on behalf of the retirees, thanking the command for the recognition and stating that though they have left the force, they remain willing to serve. He praised Ojajuni as a father, mentor and caregiver, and expressed appreciation to the serving officers who had worked alongside 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.

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