CP OJAJUNI'S OTA FAMILIARIZATION VISIT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY POLICING, INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

CP OJAJUNI'S OTA FAMILIARIZATION VISIT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY POLICING, INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

By Jennifer Nwosu 

The conversation around security in Ogun State is increasingly shifting beyond patrol vehicles and arrests to a broader strategy built on partnerships, technology and public trust. That approach was on display as the State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni extended his statewide familiarization tour to Ota Area Command, one of Ogun's busiest industrial and commercial corridors, where engagements with monarchs, local government officials, security agencies, manufacturers and community leaders underscored a growing emphasis on collaborative policing.

According to a statement released by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the visit formed part of the Command's wider strategy to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve operational coordination and reinforce community participation in safeguarding lives, businesses and critical infrastructure across the state.

The day's engagements began at the palace of the Olota of Ota, Oba Prof. Abdul Kabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, where the Commissioner paid a traditional courtesy visit alongside members of the Command's management team. The gathering, which included other respected traditional rulers and members of the Chiefs-in-Council, reflected the enduring influence of traditional institutions in community security. The visit acknowledged the long-standing partnership between the palace and the police, while reinforcing the Command's commitment to expanding grassroots policing through closer engagement with local leadership.

The security conversation then moved to the Ota Area Command Headquarters, where local government chairmen, leaders of the Police Community Relations Committee, representatives of sister security agencies, religious figures and community stakeholders assembled for a broad discussion on public safety. Ota's strategic importance as one of Nigeria's busiest manufacturing clusters framed much of the engagement, with renewed calls for stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and active citizen participation in crime prevention.

A recurring feature of the discussions was Operation Kosaye, the ongoing intelligence-driven security initiative that has become one of the defining pillars of the Ogun State Police Command's operational strategy. The Commissioner highlighted the operation's role in tightening security across the Lagos-Ogun corridor, disrupting criminal networks and denying offenders safe operating spaces through sustained surveillance, joint operations and community-backed intelligence gathering.

Attention also turned to prevention rather than enforcement alone. Stakeholders received an overview of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), the Nigeria Police Force's flagship non-kinetic crime prevention initiative. Through advocacy, youth mentorship and sustained public engagement, the programme seeks to tackle cultism, substance abuse and youth violence before they mature into criminal activity.

Technology featured prominently in the Command's evolving security architecture. The Commissioner introduced stakeholders to Gateway Shield, the Ogun State Police Command's integrated digital reporting platform designed to bridge the gap between residents and law enforcement. The platform enables citizens to submit anonymous intelligence, trigger emergency alerts, report crimes in real time and communicate directly with the police through mobile and web-based channels, reinforcing a model of policing that increasingly depends on speed, accessibility and public participation.

Beyond stakeholder meetings, the tour reflected Ogun's economic realities. The Commissioner visited Sona Group of Industries, where discussions centred on industrial security, emergency preparedness and the protection of critical infrastructure. Recognising that thriving industries contribute directly to employment and social stability, the Command commended the company's investment in security systems and corporate social responsibility while encouraging deeper collaboration with law enforcement.

The industrial inspection continued with visits to The Papilon Company Limited and Geepee Company Limited, where security protocols, emergency response mechanisms and information-sharing structures were assessed. The engagements reinforced a growing recognition that safeguarding investments and protecting industrial assets are inseparable from maintaining public security within one of Nigeria's most active manufacturing corridors.

By the close of the visit, the familiarization tour had evolved into something more substantive than ceremonial courtesy calls. It showcased a policing philosophy that places equal value on traditional institutions, community trust, technological innovation, inter-agency cooperation and private sector partnerships. As Operation Kosaye continues to expand and digital initiatives such as Gateway Shield gain momentum, the Ogun State Police Command appears intent on building a security framework that is as preventive as it is responsive, positioning collaboration not confrontation as one of its' most effective tools for sustaining peace across the state.