#EndSARS: Policemen Afraid To Wear Uniform When I Assumed Office — Edo CP

The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, has revealed that as a result of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country last year, policemen in the state were afraid to wear their uniforms when he assumed office in January.

Speaking during a courtesy visit from the National President, Police Officers Wives Association, Hajia Hajara Usman, and her entourage in Benin, Ogbadu noted that the morale of the policemen in the state was also low.

He said, “As at the time we came in January, it was a difficult time in Edo as the effect of the #EndSAR protest in the state was still bitting hard. It was a very difficult time so much that the policemen were not wearing their uniforms, they could not go out for patrol, while their morale was low.”

“We were also having as many as seven kidnappings and 10 robbery cases in a day but with the management team headed by me and with the assistance of the IG, we were able to reclaim the public space.

The CP continued, “It took time and efforts to build the morale, discipline and confidence of officers to be able to come out to reclaim the public space with the support from the IGP and POWA.”

The CP commended the POWA president for taking interest in Edo as well as the welfare and empowerment of officers wives as a priority.

“With your motherly advice, we have commenced the construction of the police primary school at Etete Division and environmental sanitation exercise at Ogida Barrack.”

On her part, Hajia Hajara Usman said POWA’s visit was to give a voice to the officers, men of the state command and the wives of the policemen.

She said her agenda as POWA’s president is education, welfare and health of the wives of police officers.

“We came out to empower widows of fallen heroes and let them know that they are not alone. It is encouraging to knowing that their services to the nation will not go unrewarded as their wives and children are adequately catered for. The police deserve spiritual and moral support from the Federal Government, families and the public at large,” she added.