Security is no doubt a vital tool for national cohesion, peace and sustainable development in any nation. No nation can achieve sustainable development in an environment where there is insecurity. No wonder Theodore Forstmann, Chairman and CEO of IMG said and I quote 'The opposite of security is insecurity, and the only way to overcome insecurity is to take the risk'.
Every individual must take the risk to ensure that the lives and property of the people in any nation is cared for as insecurity poses a serious developmental challenge and threatens the existence of Nigeria as a nation.
Since his inception in office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 till date, The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and his administration has remained committed to promoting the vision of a secure, safe, just, peaceful, prosperous and strong national development in Nigeria.
It is no doubt that President Buhari, in a quest to ensure that there is adequate security of lives and property, a just society, peaceful co-existence, national unity, prosperity and sustainable development in the country, earlier this year, a week before the 2019 general elections in the country, approved the promotion and deployment of officers of the Nigeria Police Force where 36 Command Commissioners of Police for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory were redeployed to different states to ensure that the 2019 general elections were credible, fair, peaceful and devoid of violence across the states of the federation.
Following the president's approval to redeploy the Commissioners, one of the Commissioners of Police that was approved for deployment by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu is Mr. Shina T. Olukolu to ensure the security of lives and property of residents of Oyo State and its environs as well as fight against insecurity and other criminal activities that have been a threat to the good people of the state.
Mr. Shina T. Olukolu is an indigene of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State. He was born on October 11, 1960. He attended the University of Lagos where he bagged Bachelors and Master's degrees in Political Science. He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (Course) on March 15, 1988, and was trained at the Police Academy Annex, Kaduna State. Since his enlistment, he has served in various capacities and attended various on-the-job-courses and was, until his redeployment to Oyo State, served as Commissioner of Police in Gombe State and as the CP Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos State.
Having succeeded his predecessor CP. Abiodun Odude in Oyo State, the active and intelligent Commissioner of Police, Olukolu has carved a niche for himself as a thorough-bred-professional who had always distinguished himself in all the places he had served in Nigeria. He also brought with him, a wealth of experience to bear in the policing of Oyo State and has been tagged the 'Successful Crime Fighter'.
Meanwhile, in his determined efforts and upon his resumption to office as the new Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, Ibadan, Oyo State, he ensured that securities architectures were put in place to ensure a violence-free and fair elections in the state as his Command was commended for a job well done during and after the last general elections in Nigeria by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Yakubu Jibril who monitored the elections in the South West on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu.
However, Olukolu, the successful crime-fighter Commissioner of Police, a dogged and intelligent officer aside from being traditional but imperative for a new Commissioner who has just reported to the new community paid homage to the Alaafin of Oyo,His Imperial Majesty, Iku Baba yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Oguguniso 1, and courtesy visits to the former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, and other important key stakeholders in the state to synergize and seek support to bring the police and the community together.
Interestingly, there has been a significant reduction in all forms of criminality, insecurity threats, and violence among others in the state under his watch ever since Olukolu was deployed to Oyo State Police Command, as he always ensures that perpetrators of heinous crimes are nabbed and brought to justice so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
Without doubts, it is worthy to note that part of his achievements recorded in fighting against crime in the state includes:
The launching of 'Operation Puff Adder' which was an initiative of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu that is aimed at combating criminals in Nigeria , which was replicated by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, in charge of Zone 11, comprising Oyo, Osun and Ondo States, AIG Leye Oyebade, and the commissioner of police Oyo State as directed by the inspector General of Police with the support of Oyo State Government, traditional leaders, host communities including the hunters, Vigilantes, and all ranks and files officers of the Oyo State Police Command in the spirit of community policing has enable the Operation Puff Adder becomes a success story in the state and its environs. Barely 48 hours after the launch of 'Operation Puff Adder' in the state, the Police command recorded a harvest of criminals and arrest in the state.
He paraded not fewer than 50 suspected criminals and armed robbers terrorizing the residents of Ibadan and other towns in the state between January and March 2019. Items recovered from the alleged criminals included exotic vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, mobile phones, locally made pistols, live cartridges, ATM cards, cutlasses, charms, axes, driver's license and the sum of twelve thousand, five-hundred-naira cash.
More so, he paraded one Adeyemi Morenikeji 37, who abducted a woman (ex-wife of his former employer) with no ransom demanded and the woman was subsequently killed as her corpse was later found. Adeyemi Morenikeji was traced by the SARS Officers of the Oyo Police Command, the deceased's car, and phones were recovered and Adeyemi was charged to court.
The command also paraded 3 men, Mohammed Isa 25, Ishaka Mohammed 27, and Adamu Ibrahim 20 who were suspected to have indulged in kidnapping a scientist with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Dr. Elliot Kulakow, an American citizen. He was rescued from the kidnappers' den unhurt alongside a Nigerian, LatifatTogunde, a member of staff of IITA who was kidnapped on 14th March 2019 at about 5:20 pm. Exhibits recovered included shells of AK-47 ammunition.
Olukolu restored peace in Ibadan Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State upon a distress call by the management of the polytechnic to calm students' unrest in the institution. The CP swiftly swung into action by deploying his men on campus to avert impending violence. Shortly after, the management of the polytechnic wrote a letter inviting the police to ensure the students vacate the school premises for a mid-semester break from declared to hold from 4th–10th April 2019.
In addition, 18 suspects were paraded at a naming ceremony in line with a distress call put across to the police command. Immediately, a team was deployed to the scene at Sanyo, Ibadan, while the suspects attacked the police, and injured the police team leader, an SP a cut on his head using a cutlass, they also vandalized police vehicles and injured other police officers.
Other criminals and suspects paraded by the command includes Dannery Mohammed and Abubakar Woru who attacked AbdulraheemAbdulkareem a money changer, known as Bureau de Change, chopped off his hand and disposed him of the sum of 3 million Naira. The incident occurred in Ayemojuba Village via Saki while returning from the market; also paraded was an arm and ammunitions dealer in Ibarapa, Saki area. In the course of operations in the town, a suspect was arrested with 750 live cartridges and was charged to court after interrogation;
Thirteen student (13) cultists of various higher institutions were also arrested around a Polytechnic while they were making efforts to initiate new members; furthermore, 3 suspects who were terrorizing Ibarapa axis were arrested with two vigilante uniforms and ammunitions was recovered among other criminal activities that CP Olukola has been able to curtail since he arrived Oyo State Police Command as Commissioner of Police in the state.
Commendably, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Oyo State Chapter led by its Chairman, Reverend Peter Omofoye under Olukolu's watch has been able to achieve more success with laudable landmark in the state. Omofoye to his unrelentless efforts in ensuring that the Police and the Community works together in setting priorities in the society, he recently honored the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the 'Most Notable Patron' award; Chief Executive Officer, Ilaji Farm and Resorts Centre, Engineer Jubril Dotun Sanusi as 'Impeccable Patron' and Sanusi's wife, Mrs. Joyce Sanusi 'Patron'; paid courtesy visit to media houses in ensuring a partnership that would enhance and complement the efforts of the police in the task of securing the lives and property of the citizens through adequate information dissemination towards the development and growth of Community policing in Oyo state which has become a success story in Oyo state and Olukolu's administration as the Commissioner of the Command.
Consequently, CP Olukolu was commended and awarded by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) with a certificate of excellence for his selfless service and the umpire role the command played during and after the last general elections in the state.
In conclusion ,it is pertinent to note that within the short period as the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Shina T. Olukolu has been able to fight against the security challenges ravaging the state, reduced criminal activities in the state, partnered with the stakeholders in the communities of Oyo State and its environs in setting the security priorities in the society and he has also fashioned ways to resolve identified problems and other criminal threats across communities, in Oyo State and its environs.
All these achievements would not have been possible without the able support of his mentor, the first law enforcement officer in the country, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu ,with the support of AIG ,Zone 11, AIG Leye Oyebade, Officers and Men of Oyo State Police Command , the PCRC , the government of Oyo state, traditional leaders , religious leaders , host communities , hunters, vigilante group and the good people of Oyo State. No wonder, Olukolu is referred to as the 'Successful Crime Fighter Commissioner of Police' in Nigeria.
