By Peter Okolie
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Imo, Mr Aboki Danjuma, on Monday, decorated the Commander, Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command, otherwise called Tiger Base, Oladimeji Adeyeyiwa, as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decoration followed Adeyeyiwa’s recent promotion by the Inspector-General (IG) of Police.
In a speech at the brief ceremony held at the command’s headquarters in Owerri, Danjuma said that “Odeyeyiwa was promoted because of his remarkable achievements.”
“Today’s event is not ordinary promotion, the IG deemed it fit to give a deserving senior police officer an accelerated promotion.
“He has achieved a lot as the head of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the command to bring down the high wave of crime in the state,” he said.
The police boss also said that the unit recently caught and detained over 65 kidnappers who were currently being investigated and helping in the arrest of other suspects.
According to him, some Imo residents are calling for the scrapping of Tiger Base.
“I advise the Police hierarchy not to disband the unit but reinforce it with personnel and tools to function well.
“Recently, we recorded skirmishes as a result of insecurity in the state in three communities in two of the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“Of the over 300 communities in the state, we cannot say because of the skirmish in three communities that there is insecurity in the state,” he said.
He said that bringing an end to sit-at-home, declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in the state and other parts of the South-East, was to the credit of the unit.
“We no longer have sit-at-home in Imo.
“Before the last election, we had some LGAs that were uninhabited, following insecurity but that is no longer the situation,” he said.
In a remark, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, acknowledged the unit’s efforts in maintaining law and order, preventing crimes, and building trust within the communities.
He said that Adeyeyiwa’s leadership and strategic approach had been instrumental to the unit’s success, earning praise from residents and stakeholders.
“I want to commend Odeyeyiwa for his meritorious service to the command and state.
“I urge him not to relent in any way, and equally implore him to continue to discharge his duties with excellence,” he said.
The governor, represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Nnamdi Anyaehie, also commended the CP for discharging his duty effectively, “which had led to the reduction of crime in the state”.
He assured the command that the State Government would spare no resources in supporting it to discharge its duties efficiently and effectively.
Also speaking, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-Charge of the IG X-Squad in the state, ACP Linus Nwaiwu, lauded Odeyeyiwa for his “professionalism and loyalty”, when he served as his deputy at the unit.
“His promotion is well-deserved.
“He has put his life on the line because I know how he worked with me as a loyal, hardworking and always in the office.
“I will not be surprised if he wins the Crime Buster Award for a consecutive third time this year.
“I can say he has actually worked for Imo people, especially in my area in Aboh Mbaise LGA, where peace has returned,” he said.
Responding, Odeyeyiwa thanked the IG, governor and CP for finding him worthy of the promotion.
He said the gesture would spur him to achieve greater successes in crime fighting and protection of lives and property in the state.
NAN reports that Odeyeyiwa, who joined the Nigeria Police Force in August 2002, was distinguished and honoured as the Crime Buster of the Year 2023 and 2024.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sam Oditah
