By Foluso Adelaja, Editor, THE STATEPOST
Ajogun, Ogun State CP
Ogun State Police Command has given the only one condition which must be met by the people of Ijebu Ode before its officers can return to the town after the recent #EndSARS protest In the country.
If Ijebu Ode people are not ready to repair the police stations destroyed by its youth during the recent EndSARS protests in the country, the Nigeria Police too are not ready to go back to these stations unrepaired, the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun has declared.
Ajogun insisted that Ijebu people should take the first initiative, maintaining that “when Ijebu Ode is ready, we are ready, they should repair the stations before we can come back”.
The Commissioner of Police who was speaking at the investiture of grand patron, patrons and advisers of Ogun State Command of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) at the Police Officers Mess, Ibara, Abeokuta during the week pointed out that ” the police didn’t destroy the stations, their youth did”.
Ajogun also noted plaintively, the incessant problems of cultists in Ijebu Ode.
He said the police has however talked to the traditional rulers in Ijebu to warn their youth.
The police commissioner thanked Obada people profusely, noting that they along with many parts of the state were prompt in repairing their police stations and this has facilitated the immediate return of the police to their areas.
Commending the efforts of the state PCRC during the EndSARS Crisis, Ajogun said the organization played a leading role in curtailing the extent of damages and brigandage meted to the state.
He said though many stations were burnt and an officer was killed, the loss was minimal when compared to other states like Oyo, Edo and Lagos.
Ajogun also thanked the obas in the state who he said “formed human shields round our stations to discourage youth from burning them”.
In his own message at the investiture, the Chairman of Ogun State PCRC, Dr (Ven) Samson Kunle Popoola, noted that the EndSARS protest has established the fact that our police must be friendlier than before with the people.
He however noted that everybody should help the police to help us as they could only be friends to law abiding citizens of the country.
Fifteen dignitaries were honored at the investiture and these include Oba AbdulFatai Akorede Akamo, the Olu of Itori and Prof (Mrs) Chinedum Peace Babalola, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, the only woman among the lot.
