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By Christopher Oji
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, has disclosed that the police force would soon train its personnel in taekwondo for self-defense in the course of their duty.
The CP, who spoke during the decoration of one of the 1,400 newly promoted officers, from the rank of Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police, who ensured victory of the police command while representing the state in a tournament in Delta State and won laurels, challenged him to start thinking of how to train officers and men in taekwondo.
Addressing the officer in particular and others in general, Owohunwa said: “Lagos is known for excellence. You have shown resilience, commitment and courage by winning the medals. At Lagos State Command, I think we can leverage on this excellence, with the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, to discuss the possibility of enhancing our operational capacity.
“The training of our men in taekwondo will add value to the self-defense capacity of officers and men of the command. So, in the coming days, we would be engaging you towards the possibility of having training that will expose officers and men of the command, through the technicalities that you have perfected, so that an average policeman will be exposed to taekwondo
and apply it in self-defense, which will help them in the line of their duty.”
The CP, however, said, if there was anything that gladdens the heart of a policeman, it is promotion, because it motivates such a police officer a lot.
“Asides this, the greatest honour as a leader in the command is to superintend over the promotion of my officers who have demonstrated consistent professional excellent, good service record and moral strength to discharge their duty.
“This is the highest number I will be decorating as the commissioner of police in Lagos. Today we will be inducting 1,400 policemen to the officer cadre of the Nigeria Police. It means a lot. There is a wide gap from being an Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police,” he said.
He emphasized the new status and roles of the promoted officers, saying: “You all are now officers of the police. The new rank comes with other obligations in terms of professional outlook, ability to dissect complex security issues and take decisions that will align with the law; and now there is no more excuse in your duty.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said it over and over again since assuming the office that promotion under his watch will be based on merit and seniority. This set is the first that will benefit from the policy. I want you all to be proud that you earned it on merit.
“The IGP’s stands on professional ground and he wants us all to do the same. Excellence should be our watchword at all times. I appeal to you to see the promotion as another step in your career. I always believe certain values brought you here and I don’t want you to change the values and your character.”
