By Babs Oyetoro
Commissioner of police, Abiodun Alamutu has a clear-cut mandate as he assumed office to lead the Police Command in Ogun State.
As a through-bred professional officer, Alamutu knew from inception that policing in his new state of assignment would not be a tea party. So, he came prepared.
Without any iota of doubt, upon resumption, the police officer hit the ground running taking the fight to the criminals in their hide-outs.
His mission statement was apt without any ambiguity sending strong messages to all and sundry that policing in the state has taken a different dimension.
In his inaugural speech he admitted that his promotion was a call to higher responsibility with assurance that his tenure as the 36th Commissioner of Police in the State would be characterized by enhanced intelligence gathering as well as proactive deployment of human and material resources to check crises and reduce crime.
From the on-set he declared war against the menace of land grabbing, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping thus sending stern warning to the officers and men of the command to uphold discipline and refrain from conniving with criminally inclined persons, noting that they would be held responsible for their actions and inactions.
It will be recalled that the complexity in the wave of crimes in the country has given rise to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery; and these crimes combined have stressed the policemen and the armed forces beyond the limit.
Various states of the federation have their shares of the security challenges with their peculiarities.
Therefore, Ogun state is not exceptional when it comes to security challenge that confronts the nation but Ogun state under the leadership of Alamutu has risen to the challenge.
*Security challenge and breakthroughs under Alamutu’s watch
Within a year in the saddle as the head of the command in Ogun State, Alamutu recorded some notable achievements that are commendable.
Just recently four travellers along Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode
Expressway were abducted. CP Alamutu mobilised his anti-kidnapping squad who went after the hoodlums in a proactive manner.
The result was heartwarming as the operatives engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and killed two kidnappers, rescued four abducted travellers, one Nigeria and three Indian nationals. Alamutu was full of praises for these gallantry operatives for the job well executed.
The Commissioner disclosed during press briefing at the state police command headquarter in Abeokuta that 109 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five AK47 rifles, eight AK magazines, and two cell phones were recovered from the kidnappers.
After the successful operation, Alamutu reiterated the state command to safeguarding lives and property, which is considered his primary duty.
In a bid to beef up security on the identified blackspot, the commissioner deployed a rapid response the team to police the area.
This successful operation was one of the high points of Alamatu success story since he arrived the state as the police commissioner. Besides, this operation further sent strong warning to criminal elements in the state that they are in for a hard time.
Aside from this breakthrough, there are other string of succusses recorded that are worthy to be documented within this short period Alamutu assumed office in the state.
At the beginning of the year, Alamutu in press Conference at the Command headquarter gave a general rundown of his achievements so far but just a few to mention in this write up.
It should be noted that the suspects that robbed and raped some female students of Tai Solarin University of Education are already in police net being prepared for prosecution.
Determined to rid the state of cultists’ activities this highflyer police officer confronted these dangerous groups headlong who had been holding sway in the state causing havoc by disturbing public peace.
He mobilised his men at various police units in the state to go all out and bring sanity to their respective areas of assignments by taking the fight to these unscrupulous elements troubling the state.
In the early part of the year, at about 23:37hrs, DPO Obalende reported the arrest of a suspected cultist, Daniel Ewalokun.
Ewalokun was apprehended with a toy pistol and is believed to be a notorious cultist causing terror in the Ala community. The case is currently under investigation.
Also, at Ifo, Police made a successful arrest of fifty-two suspected member of the Supreme Buccaneers confraternity, also known as Alora, at the Simko International Hotel in Iya Abiodun Ifo area.
According to the CP: “This operation was conducted based on intelligence received regarding the initiation of new members of the group.
“Upon receiving the intelligence, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPOL) Ota activated tactical teams led by the SWAT Commander, who were already within the area Command on special duty and directed them to reinforce DPO Ifo for the operation.
“The DPO and the SWAT Commander raced to the scene with the combined teams. Upon arrival, the cult group, who had already mounted surveillance around the scene, attempted to lock the gate upon sighting the police presence.
“Despite their efforts, the teams gained access into the hotel, resulting in the arrest of fifty-two suspects, including some female suspects. Some however, managed to escape through the fence. Among those arrested were Adigun Ayomide, Obanla Abayomi, and fifty others. The suspects have been charged to court”.
Alamutu averred that the onslaught would continue until his team put an end to the activities of cultists in the state.
Alamutu reported with glee during the press chat that tangible number of suspects had been arrested and charged to court in the cult related murder in Sagamu.
Just early this year, a surveillance team led by Insp. Ogunleye Bankole apprehended armed robbery suspects during stop and search. The suspects had reportedly confessed to the crime even as a cut-to-size double barrel pistol gun was recovered from the house of the suspects.
The CP informed that the case is currently under investigation, and further developments will be communicated.
This workaholic police officer has equally beamed his search light on Gender Based Violence in the state.
According to him: “I must address the disturbing increase in cases of gender-based violence experienced in 2023. The Commissioner for Women Affairs in Ogun State has worked diligently to address these cases, and those treated by Police Anti Human Trafficking Section have been charged to court. I enjoin mothers to oversee and protect the welfare of their female adolescent children against predators, so that we can collectively counter and prevent these forms of abuses”.
He, however, promised that his determination to fight crime remains unwavering thus calling for the support of the Press, the public, and all stakeholders, assuring that a safer environment would be created, where everyone could prosper and live without fear.
It will be recalled that Alamutu joined the NPF on May 18, 1992, and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lagos State University.
He later proceeded to Gwoza Maiduguri in 1993 for the Police Mobile Force, Anti-riot and Tactical Maneuvering Training,” the PPRO said.
As a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, U.S., the Commissioner of Police also attended several development courses as stipulated by the NPF.
Since his appointment in 1992 into the NPF, Alamutu has served in most of the states, even in the toughest terrain as a seasoned officer of repute.
He has on the job garnered both administrative and operational experiences over the years.
