BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Ordinarily, the posting of commissioners of police (CPs) to state commands by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) does not make big news because it is parts of measures towards achieving improved service delivery to the citizenry.
But when a particular CP is redeployed twice to the same state, it naturally gets media attention because security experts and residents will want to know the CP’s pedigree or achievements which probably put him ahead of his peers in crime bursting, prevention and control in that state.
The recently redeployed Commissioner of Police in Edo, CP Babatunde Johnson Kokumo was the 38th Commissioner of Police to head the State Police Command when he took over from CP Haliru Gwandu, now AIG, on October 23, 2017.
CP Kokumo who led Edo Police Command to landmark achievements in crime prevention and control was succeeded by CP Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, now CP, Lagos State on January 2, 2019.
While handing over, CP Johnson Kokumo disclosed that he had been sent on a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
CP Kokumo urged his successor CP Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu to take over the duties of policing Edo State, from where he stopped.
“I am handing over the duties and responsibilities of policing Edo State to you today, Wednesday, January 2, 2019,” Kokumo stated.”
Prior to Kokumo’s first posting to Edo State, he was in charge of Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Taking over from his predecessor in 2017, CP Kokumo pledged to reduce crime to the barest minimum.
“Our mission is to reduce crime to a barest tolerable minimum.
“I am here to work, to work hard, to serve with diligence the good people of Edo State.
“In doing this, we are going to fight crime and criminals with all the arsenals available to us.
“We want to say in clear terms that we are going to partner with sister security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market women, community leaders, civil society organizations professional bodies like NUJ, MBA, NBA, NUT, and others.
“I want to put this across to you, in some instances, vital, relevant information, just one is much better to a policeman than one thousand and one AK47 riffles,” CP Kokumo stated.
During his 14 months stewardship in Edo, the police command recorded remarkable breakthrough and historical achievements in crime bursting, control and prevention.
Among them were the dramatic arrest of no fewer than 40 high profile suspected criminals including four of the eight kidnappers who gunned down three policemen and abducted the Managing Director, Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Dr. Andy Ehanire, younger brother of the Minister of State for Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the premises of the zoo on Airport Road, Benin City, on Sunday, September 24, 2017.
He was reportedly freed in Warri, Delta State on Saturday, October 14, 2017.
Also, the tracking down of seven persons said to have principally participated in the gruesome murder of a lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Professor Paul Otasowie in Benin City on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
Cache of arms and ammunition were recovered along with some stolen vehicles during the period.
Investigation by our reporter revealed that CP Johnson Kokumo will be setting a record as the first COMPOL to be redeployed twice in Edo command whenever he assumes duty in the state.
He was redeployed from Osun State Command where he reportedly reduced ritual-related killings and sundry violent crimes to tolerable state.
Some officers at the state police command headquarters in Benin City who craved anonymity described CP Johnson Kokumo as a team player.
“Oga Kokumo will motivate you to do your job. He likes seeing results. Just perform your duty you are his best friend.” One Inspector remarked.
Two security analysts Mr. Eboigbodin Adams and Stanley Enagbare advised CP Johnson Kokumo to make his second coming more remarkable by improving on the strategies of his predecessor.
They appealed to him to be more professional, tactical and weary of Sherlock politicians before, during and after the gubernatorial election in the state.
They however expressed confidence that CP Johnson Kokumo’s second coming to Edo would force unrepentant criminals out of the state.
Whether these expectations would be met, time will tell.
