Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebola Hamzat, says the command will do everything possible to ensure security of the downtrodden and other citizens of the state.
Hamzat stated this while receiving an award of excellent performance from the state chapter of National Pepper Sellers’ Association of Nigeria on Friday in Ibadan.
He said that his interaction with the downtrodden was initially formal but from now on, it would be informal and that he would be at their service at all times.
Hamzat said that the welfare and security of the people was an important function of government, adding that police would ensure protection and security of citizens in the state.
“We shall do everything possible to see that the downtrodden feel secured and protected,” he said.
The commissioner of police, who noted that the police had never been so honoured, said:
“Today is the happiest day in my almost 32 years of service.
“This is unique to me because it shows that the community policing is working.
“If you have to look at the strata we have in the society, you will want to look at these people as those you can ignore; whereas in actual fact, they are the society.
“They are members of the community that if security should fail, they will be more affected.
“They don’t have the money to employ personal guards; it then means that if they can be happy that Oyo State police command is doing well, I am so grateful,” Hamzat said.
According to him, the market men and women have been contributing to the economy of the state and Nigeria in general through tax payment and others.
The police boss commended the association for recognising the performance of the police in ensuring security of the state, adding that the award would forever be in his memory, even after service.
In her remarks, the association’s President, Alhaja Fausat Azeez, said the body decided to honour the police commissioner based on the peace being enjoyed in the state since his assumption of office.
Azeez urged the police and other security agencies in the state to continue their ‘excellent performance’ in ensuring security of lives and property of the people.
She, however, appealed to the federal government to ensure reduction in petrol price, saying it had indirectly contributed to high price of foodstuffs and other commodities in the country.
Also speaking, the President of Mogajis (compound heads) in Ibadan, Alhaji Asimiyu Adepoju, said the commissioner of police and his men were doing ‘wonderfully well’ in the state.
Adepoju, who described Hamzat as a humble and servant of the people, urged him not to relent in his efforts at sustaining the existing peace in the state. (NAN).