CP BODE OJAJUNI STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY POLICING ACROSS OGUN'S BORDER COMMUNITIES

CP BODE OJAJUNI STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY POLICING ACROSS OGUN'S BORDER COMMUNITIES

By Jennifer Nwosu 

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni's latest strategic tour of Ogun State's border communities, has givena new angle to  security by approaching it, not as an enforcement, but as a partnership built on trust, intelligence and shared responsibility.

According to a statement released by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the statewide familiarization tour took the Commissioner and members of the Command Management Team to the Idiroko and Ilaro Area Commands as part of an expanding strategy to reinforce community-centred policing, deepen intelligence gathering and strengthen relationships with traditional institutions, local government authorities, academia, sister security agencies and residents across the Yewa axis.

Accompanied by the Ogun State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Comrade Abdullahi Lawal, the Commissioner began the engagements at the Idiroko Area Command, where he met traditional rulers, representatives of Ipokia Local Government, community leaders and security stakeholders operating along Nigeria's busy international border with the Republic of Benin.

Before discussing operational priorities, the Commissioner paid tribute to the late Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom, acknowledging the monarch's enduring contributions to peace, stability and community development throughout the Yewa region. The visit struck a careful balance between respect for traditional authority and the practical demands of modern policing.

Border communities often face unique security pressures, from transnational crime to smuggling and organised criminal movements. Yet the Commissioner commended residents of Idiroko for preserving peaceful coexistence despite the area's rich ethnic and religious diversity. He also reminded stakeholders that cultural celebrations, including traditional festivals such as Oro, should continue to respect constitutional rights and public order while preserving cherished customs.

A recurring theme throughout the tour was Operation Kosaye, the multi-agency security initiative that has become a defining feature of Ogun State's current policing strategy. The Commissioner highlighted the operation as evidence that sustained collaboration among security agencies can significantly disrupt criminal networks operating across state and international boundaries.

The programme continues to strengthen intelligence sharing, coordinated patrols and rapid response capabilities within Ogun's strategic border corridor.

From Idiroko, the delegation proceeded to the palace of the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, where discussions centred on strengthening security through traditional institutions. The royal father has remained an influential supporter of policing initiatives, including facilitating the establishment of the 84 Police Mobile Force Squadron base in the area, a development widely regarded as a major boost to regional security architecture.

The Commissioner also briefed the monarch on the operational milestones already achieved through Operation Kosaye and reaffirmed the Command's determination to sustain robust policing throughout Yewaland as emerging security challenges continue to evolve.

The tour equally reflected the growing recognition that educational institutions are vital partners in public safety. At the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), the Commissioner met the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Akinde Mukail Aremu, members of the university management and student leaders. Discussions focused on preserving the peaceful academic environment that has allowed teaching, learning and research to flourish.

The university's contribution to security was acknowledged through its donation of a strategically located police post, a partnership that has strengthened police visibility and improved emergency response for both the institution and neighbouring communities. The Commissioner assured the university community that intelligence-led patrols and proactive policing would remain a permanent feature of security around the campus.

Operational readiness also featured prominently during an inspection of the 84 Police Mobile Force Squadron, where officers were commended for maintaining discipline, professionalism and tactical preparedness. The visit reinforced the Command's emphasis on ensuring that frontline personnel remain adequately motivated to respond swiftly to evolving threats.

The final stop at the Ilaro Area Command brought together police officers, members of the PCRC, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and representatives of sister security agencies for another round of strategic consultations. The message remained consistent throughout the engagements: sustainable security cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone. It depends on credible intelligence, community participation, institutional cooperation and public confidence.

Rather than relying solely on visible enforcement, the familiarization tour projected a broader policing philosophy of one that places equal value on dialogue, local partnerships and preventive security. Across royal courts, border towns, educational institutions and operational commands, the engagements reinforced a growing framework in which policing extends beyond responding to crime to building resilient communities capable of preventing it.

As Operation Kosaye continues to expand across Ogun State's strategic corridors, the latest tour illustrates a Command increasingly focused on weaving together traditional leadership, government institutions, academia, security agencies and local residents into a unified security network. In an era where public safety depends as much on collaboration as enforcement, Ogun State's evolving approach offers a model rooted in partnership rather than policing alone.