CP OJAJUNI STRENGTHENS SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS OGBERE, SPOTLIGHTS OPERATION KOSAYE

CP OJAJUNI STRENGTHENS SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS OGBERE, SPOTLIGHTS OPERATION KOSAYE 

By Jennifer Nwosu 

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni has embarked on his latest familiarization tour to the Ogbere Area Command, where conversations with traditional rulers, local government officials, security agencies and community leaders took centre stage in an effort to reinforce the collaborative model of policing increasingly defining Ogun State.

According to a statement released by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the strategic visit forms part of the Command's sustained commitment to expanding community policing, strengthening public confidence and promoting intelligence-led partnerships capable of preventing crime before it occurs. The engagement also reaffirmed the Command's determination to sustain the momentum of Operation Kosaye, its flagship security initiative aimed at dismantling criminal networks and protecting border communities across the state.

Accompanied by members of the Command Management Team, the Commissioner began the tour with a royal visit to the palace of the Oloko of Ijebu-Imusin, Oba S.A. Onafowokan, where he met alongside other prominent traditional rulers, including the Oyebola of Igbaga, Oba M.A. Adenaike; the Ogirimadagbo of Ilodo, Oba (Engr.) I.O. Ajede; and the Kunnusi of Idokunnusi, Oba B.J. Adetola, together with members of the Council of Chiefs.

The gathering reflected the enduring influence of traditional institutions in shaping community security. Local monarchs acknowledged the improved security climate across the area and recognised the operational gains recorded by the Ogun State Police Command, particularly in disrupting kidnapping attempts, recovering illegal firearms and retrieving stolen vehicles. The engagement also marked a historic milestone, as community leaders noted that it was the first official visit by a serving Commissioner of Police to Ijebu-Imusin.

For the Commissioner, the visit provided an opportunity to highlight the expanding impact of Operation Kosaye, which continues to serve as the Command's principal framework for tackling violent crime and strengthening security across Ogun's border corridors. He emphasized that intelligence sharing, community participation and the active involvement of traditional institutions remain indispensable in preventing criminal activities before they escalate.

The tour continued at the palace of the Moyegeso of Itele, Oba (Engr.) Mufutau Kasali, where discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between residents and law enforcement. The Commissioner reiterated the Command's resolve to sustain proactive policing while encouraging communities to support security efforts through timely and credible information capable of disrupting criminal plans.

At the Ogbere Area Command Headquarters, the engagement broadened into a larger security dialogue involving local government officials, traditional rulers, representatives of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Amotekun Corps, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Forest Guards, religious leaders and representatives of both the Igbo and Hausa/Fulani communities.

The diversity of participants underscored the Command's belief that effective policing extends well beyond uniformed officers. Addressing stakeholders, the Commissioner commended the strong collaboration already existing among security agencies operating within the Ogbere axis, noting that such cooperation has helped maintain stability across one of Ogun State's most expansive and strategically important corridors.

Operation Kosaye again featured prominently during the discussions, with the Commissioner reaffirming that the initiative remains central to denying criminal groups safe operating spaces throughout Ogun State and along its borders. Beyond enforcement, he introduced stakeholders to the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Nigeria Police Force's flagship non-kinetic crime prevention programme designed to discourage youth involvement in cultism, substance abuse and related social vices through education and community engagement.

Residents were also encouraged to make greater use of the Gateway Shield emergency reporting platform, which has become an important component of the Command's intelligence-gathering framework. The Commissioner assured stakeholders that every credible report received through the platform would be treated professionally and acted upon promptly.

The visit concluded with a courtesy call on the Ijebu East Local Government Secretariat, where the Commissioner met Executive Chairman Dr. Oluwakayode Kehinde and members of the local government management team. Discussions centred on strengthening collaboration between civil authorities and security agencies, particularly along the Ogun-Ondo border corridor, where coordinated surveillance has become increasingly important in combating cross-border criminality.

The Commissioner commended the Chairman's active participation in recent joint security patrols and described the partnership between the Police and local government as a model for strengthening grassroots security architecture.

Rather than a ceremonial tour, the engagements reflected a broader policing philosophy taking shape across Ogun State, one where royal institutions, elected officials, security agencies and ordinary citizens are viewed as equal partners in safeguarding their communities. As Operation Kosaye continues to evolve and community-centred policing gains deeper roots, the Ogbere visit reinforced a simple but increasingly influential idea: enduring public safety is achieved not only through enforcement, but through trust, shared responsibility and sustained collaboration.