The newly appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) for Edo State, CP Monday Agbonika, on Wednesday paid a working visit to Igbinedion University, Okada, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the police and critical stakeholders in combating crime across the state.
Addressing the university’s management at the Senate Chamber, CP Agbonika emphasized the need for sustained engagement with key institutions to curb criminal activities. He disclosed that since assuming office, his command has faced significant challenges, including cultism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
The police chief, who previously served as Commissioner of Police for the Mounted Troop and Force Equitation Officer at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, commended Igbinedion University for its proactive stance against criminality. He noted that no student of the institution had been implicated in the ongoing crackdown on cultism and related offenses in the state.
CP Agbonika urged the university management to intensify awareness campaigns on laws prohibiting cultism and other vices. He also stressed the importance of reinforcing the existing partnership between the police and the institution to enhance security within and around the campus.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, PhD, FAS, praised CP Agbonika as a seasoned officer with 32 years of distinguished service spanning operations, investigations, administration, and public relations. Professor Ezemonye lauded the Edo State Police Command’s inclusive approach to crime fighting and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to collaborating with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies. He highlighted the establishment of the Buratai Centre for Security Studies as a testament to the institution’s dedication to security education and research.
The Commissioner was accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID), Nurudeen Oyedele, and other senior officers, underscoring the importance of the visit. The engagement signals a renewed push by the Edo State Police Command to foster stronger ties with academic institutions and other stakeholders in its bid to ensure a safer environment for residents.
