By Augustine Ehikioya
Rewarding hardwork, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday, on Thursday decorated the newly promoted Police officers in the State.
The 280 promoted officers in the State were part of the recent promotion approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC) following the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba’s recommendation.
Security Watch Africa (SWA) covered the decoration ceremony held at Rivers State Police Command’s Officers Mess in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the occasion, CP Friday revealed that out of the 57 promoted from CSP to ACP nationwide, 4 are serving in Rivers State.
According to him, 44 officers in Rivers State benefitted out of the 1695 total number of those promoted from ASP to DSP across the country.
Rivers State Command, he said, also had 67 officers out of the 1958 promoted nationwide from ASP II to ASP I.
He said 165 Inspectors were promoted to ASP in Rivers State out of the 6,119 promoted in the country.
CP Friday said “We are here to celebrate some of our officers who benefited from the magnanimity and benevolence of our Inspector General of Police.
“Recall that since IGP Alkali Usman Baba took over, many good things have been happening to the Police in general, and this State Command in particular.
“You can recall that since he assumed office last year, this Command has been able to produce two Commissioners of Police, at least three Deputy Commissioners of Police and more that ten Assistant Commissioners of Police, all due to the benevolence of the Inspector General of Police.
“I urged the beneficiaries that reward for hardwork is to be promoted. If you put in your best, other promotions may follow,” he added.
He pointed out that under IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the days are gone when officers and men get frustrated because they have stayed too long on a rank.
The Commissioner of Police also prayed to Almighty God for His continuous protection and guidance over IGP Usman Alkali Baba.
Speaking on behalf of the newly promoted and decorated officers, DSP Paul Ogara said “We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, and all the PSC management team for finding us worthy to be promoted.
“We also thank the CP Rivers State Command and all the management team for not giving us queries for the mistakes we made.
“If you had given us queries, we won’t have been eligible to be promoted,” he noted.
Some of the beneficiaries of the promotion also spoke with Security Watch Africa, pouring praises on the IGP, PSC and the CP Rivers State.
DSP Nasiru Hadiza said “I’m so happy, I’m super excited. And I’m grateful to the Inspector General of Police, Police Service Commission, to the CP of Rivers State.
“I’m happy to be among those decorated today. Now that I’m promoted, the inspiration and zeal to serve the country very well is more,” she stated.
On his part, DSP A. Lewis said “I feel very delighted. I’m very proud of the Nigerian Police. I’m very happy that today God made it possible that I’m promoted to my next rank.
“I’m very very happy with the system of the Nigerian Police, the IGP down to our CP, even to my DPO.”
ASP I. Okorie said “I’m among those promoted today. So, I’m so glad to be among the people decorated by the CP. I thank the Almighty God and my prayers is for the junior ones to grow as well.
“Now that I’m promoted, I will make sure I perform my duty as expected,” she promised.
ASP Ohadike Cynthia, while thanking God, also commended the IGP, PSC, and CP Rivers State.
“With my new rank, I’m expected to do more in my area of responsibility.
“My advice to those yet to be promoted is to be doing what they are doing and that the IGP and God will remember them very soon,” she stated.