In a suspicious move, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun redeploys former Rivers State Commissioner of Police (CP), Olatunji Disu to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
Newly redeployed Commissioner of Police to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Olatunji Disu has promised to replicate his achievements while serving in Rivers State.
To achieve his objective, CP Disu has deployed additional personnel and equipment for patrols, stop-and-search operations and surveillance across the Federal Capital Territory.
Discharging his duties in Rivers State hitherto known for political volatility and hostility, Disu effectively curbed the security challenges that were brazenly undermining the state’s economic development and other prospects.
It would be recalled that prior to his deployment to Rivers State crime was a major industry for cultists, kidnappers and other criminal element, but when he arrived the state, he acted swiftly by boosting Police Community Relations and encouraged community policing through local vigilantes and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Residents of the state cited a face-off between Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) now Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited with its Mgbuosimini Community in Rumueme when members of the community embarked on a peaceful protest against the oil company due to many years of neglect.
Disu intervened by inviting the warring parties in the community and management of the oil company to a meeting after a three-day faceoff to appeal for an amicable resolution of the dispute, after which the Mgbuosimini Community yielded to his appeal without giving any conditions and resolved their differences.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Josephine Adeh, explained that the initiative is aimed at effectively combating rising incidents of ‘one chance’ crimes and car theft in the FCT and its environs.
In her words: “We will be impounding vehicles without registration numbers, with only one plate, or using defaced plates. Regulations regarding covered number plates and tinted glasses will also be enforced. While these operations may cause some inconvenience, they reflect our commitment to the safety of all FCT residents and to deterring criminal activities targeting motorists and passengers.
“Since we launched these measures, we have successfully recovered several stolen vehicles and apprehended ‘one chance’ robbers and to that extent, we appreciate the patience and cooperation of members of the public during these operations and we advise vehicle owners to ensure compliance with all regulations.
“The FCT Police Command is dedicated to maintaining a secure environment. We encourage residents to report suspicious activities and cooperate with our officers. Your safety is our priority.”
Those who know Disu’s antecedents believe that his deployment to the FCT Police Command is an opportunity to make the city the envy of most capital cities in Africa.
Also, crime analysts have said due to his accomplishments in Rivers State and other locations where he had served, Disu should be watched closely by the Nigerian Police Force, as his professional ethics, demeanour, character disposition, public service conduct and straight-to-the-point approach, among others were worthy of emulation.
However, some state actors and criminal gangs, as well criminals on the most wanted list of the command, assassin cartels, rape gangs, one chance cartels, land grabbers, kidnapping, killings, armed robbery, Car snatchers, secret cult leaders opposed CP Disu’s deployment to Rivers State.
Analysts in the state has said that not only did he fight Crime with the support of his team, but enjoyed the support of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun with the needed logistics to enable him to deliver on his mandate, as evidenced in his numerous achievements.
He tackled headlong the notorious tag of Rivers State as insecure following the rampant cases of killings, arson, kidnapping, rape, extortion, murder and robbery with the likes of late Super hero cop SP Bako Angbashim who was gruesomely murdered and dismembered at the time was a nightmare to the men of the underworld, he paid the ultimate price fighting crime in Rivers State.
Journalists and residents of Port Harcourt and other parts of the state testified that as CP of Rivers State, Disu also curbed the menace of baby factory and one-chance monster, saying: “He never prided himself as a Mr. Know-it-all or a menacing police boss. Journalists said he do call them on phone or meet with them one-on-one to seek their opinions or advice on certain issues to guide his actions.
“His antecedents have raised the bar of curbing security in Rivers and no doubt his feat in Rivers state Police Command earned him an award by the police highest Command as the best Commissioner of Police in Nigeria. He is arguably the first to receive such an award in the history of the Nigeria Police Force.”
