The Traditional Ruler of Orokam and Owukpa Intermediate Area in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, His Royal Highness, Chief Joseph Onyirokwu Ikwuje, has lauded the Benue State Police command for their prompt response to addressing the security challenges in the area.
Chief Ikwuje made the statement when he presented the keys to a Police patrol pickup van to the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ifeanyi Enemari, on Thursday, at the Police Officers Mess in Makurdi.
He said, “We have a lot of security challenges in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, particularly in Orokam and Owukpa, and when I reported the issue to you, you responded promptly by posting a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Stephen Edombo, to the area.”
The Traditional Ruler acknowledged the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the DPO in tackling the security challenges in the area but said he lacked a vehicle to carry out his assignment effectively. He disclosed that, “When I discovered that he is a very active and committed officer who takes his job very seriously, I requested a vehicle from you, and you did not waste time by providing the vehicle to me.”
“Although, it was not roadworthy, but I have fixed all that I needed to fix in it in order for it to move and to be presentable. That is why I have come to present it to you for the DPO, who is performing excellently well in the area.”
While commending the Police for effectively policing the community in order for people to sleep well with their two eyes closed, and now they were enjoying relative peace in the area, he said, “The youths are the ones causing problems in the community, and my call on them is for them to go and work and earn a living for themselves because it is when they do not have any meaningful thing doing that they tend to engage in acts that are inimical to the society.”We thank God that tension is now calming in the communities.”
In his response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, commended the Traditional Ruler for the kind gesture that he had demonstrated, attributing it to the care and love that he had for his subjects.
He explained that, “With a traditional ruler like you, the community deserves relative peace. Now see what you have done with the bad pickup van which I had given you; it was almost like a scrap, but you have transformed it into an operational vehicle.”
He further said, “We want to extend the appreciation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to people like you and also thank God that we have plenty of good people like you in Benue State.”
“As the Police, we are here to carry out the directives of the Inspector General of Police, which is to ensure that the desired peace that Benue people require is restored and sustained.”
The Commissioner of Police confirmed that, “Glory be to God that the criminals have seen the combined action of the government, the Police, and other security agencies in the area, and that is teamwork.”
“As traditional rulers, we need your continued support because without your required support, the security agencies would not have achieved the results that we are having now.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Research and Strategy, Government House Makurdi, Tony Agada, thanked the Commissioner of Police for ensuring that peace was restored in Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
He said, “We pray to God to give you the wisdom to carry out your assignment dutifully.”
