There is a high turnover of Divisional Police Officers (DPO) across the country in terms of their frequent postings making it difficult for one to get used to any DPO for a while.
I have never met the new DPO for Shagamu Road Police Station, Ikorodu, SP Chris Adeyeri until few days ago when the call of duty brought us together.
I had narrated to a police officer friend the experience of a young man in Ikorodu by name Toyeeb who was defrauded of N370,000 in Access Bank Plc banking hall along Lagos Road January this year. I told him that I intended in follow up this story to its logical end since a policeman was fingered in the allegation.
My police officer friend who is in another command told me that I could be rest assured of getting true and proper cooperation from the DPO Adeyeri in charge of that station because he knows him as a fine officer, uncorrupt and well disciplined.
Having dealt with policemen from the lowest ranks to the highest as a journalist, I had my doubts as I headed to see the new DPO with three of my reporters. I was going with one of the impressions I presented to my police officer friend that I was yet to see a DPO who will not ask (directly or indirectly) for a gratification to do something for someone.
At the DPO’s office, Sagamu Road, we met some female officers at the counter. They were polite and attended to us in a friendly manner. They told us that the DPO was with someone; hence, we waited a little.
It was not long, the DPO came out with his guest and I approached him and introduced myself to him. He was pleasant and ushered me to his office where I presented my mission – to do an in-depth story on a young man who was defrauded in Access Bank, Lagos Road and the policeman, who demanded money from the victim (Toyeeb) to help him in the investigation.
Mr. Adeyeri, a Superintendent of Police (SP) was quick to confirm another thing I had earlier heard from my police officer friend, that he is a no-nonsense officer who will not ask for nor take a bribe. This friend had told me confidently to go and see for myself.
The DPO had listened to my presentation patently on the Access Bank fraud. He noted that the victim was negligent in handing over money to an unknown person but he was furious with his officer who collected money to do his job and who refused to let the victim have a copy of the video clips (footage) of the fraudster as recorded by the CCTV surveillance cameras in the said bank.
The police boss wondered why his police officer will withhold the photos released by Access Bank that ought to help the victim, his family and the public to track the criminal fraudster.
Mr. Adeyeri summoned the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) chastised him and showed the publisher and his reporter the footage copy. After his explanation he convinced the publisher that there was no official cover up by the police, on the matter but he indicted the policeman who conducted the investigation and collected money from the victim and ordered him to refund that money so taken from the victim, (Toyeeb) immediately.
The DPO told the Oriwu Sun team that he does not tolerate bribe taking by any of his officers. Even when we reminded him that some officers would do so at his back or without his knowledge, he affirmed that if he gets to know about such cases, the police officer concerned will not only refund the money taken, the person will be punished as well.
He stressed that it is morally and professionally wrong to take money from any one to do ones job.
Our thirty (30) minutes stay with Mr. Adeyeri left a strong impression in us that we met a fine officer, the breed that should be encouraged by all. When an officer does well, there is nothing wrong in giving him or her gifts after rendering good service.
I have no doubt that this DPO fits into Buhari’s era of change and the fight against corruption. He will obviously rise to the top with this template hence I devoted this mouth’s column to appreciate this DPO with a difference.