The people of Omukwu Onicha Nweafor in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State, have expressed gratitude to a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adedayo and his wife, Evangelist Chioma Adeoye for their efforts towards attracting a Divisional Police Station to their area.
In his address during the official commissioning of the new station, President General of Omukwu Development Union, Sir Sunny Uzoechi revealed that the community in order to find lasting solution to the security challenges in the area reached out to government for assistance.
“It was at this juncture that our in-law who was then Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adedayo Adeoye and his wife, Evangelist Mrs Chioma Adeoye (who incidentally is a daughter of Omukwu) graciously assisted us towards attracting the location of a police station in this community”, the PG stated.
Sir Uzoechi commended HRH Eze Anthony Nwanguma of Onicha Nweafor, Mazi John Amaralam, and Arc Davison Alozie for their efforts towards realizing the project.
Furthermore, he thanked the Ezeoma family for donating a land free of charge as well as others that gave up theirs for a token. He added that construction of four 2-bedroom residential bungalow at the site commenced on 23rd of December, 2008, while that of the main station, which witnessed hiccups, was later started and completed.
The PG also applauded members of Omukwu Consultative Forum for their collaborative efforts that made the project a success.
Retired DIG Adedayo Adeoye in his remarks expressed joy and gratitude to God that the project was eventually realized, adding that the delay in having the station commissioned as proposed from 2010 to 2017 was as a result of non-availability of land.
Adeoye who stated that the station will mark the beginning of peace and security of lives and properties in the area further appealed to police authorities in Imo State to send in equipment and personnel to beef up the station.
Evang Chioma Adeoye in a brief statement thanked God for the project and revealed that what she and eher husband had in mind was a Police Training College or Police Children’s School, adding that lack of land for such projects made them to settle for the station.
In his remarks, Imo Commissioner of Police, Okey Ezike represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tunji Abimbola, described the event as very symbolic. He stated that the state Police Command will ensure that something is done to have adequate police personnel at the new divisional Police station.
Speaking at the event, traditional ruler of Onicha Nweafor, HRH Eze Anthony Nwanguma extolled the police authorities for heeding to their clarion call and came to their rescue, adding that the entire Onicha people are ever grateful.
Eze Nwanguma who urged the police authorities to post more personnel that would be able to tackle crime and criminality in the area, promised to honour the 16 outstanding persons whose efforts made the project a success with chieftaincy titles.
Highpoint of the event was the official cutting of tape to commission the Onicha Divisional Police Station by the DCP Tunji Abimbola who represented the Imo State Commissioner of Police.