Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Ogun State Police Command has honoured 39 serving and retired police officers for distinguished service, dedication and professionalism, with the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, using the occasion to recognise the contributions of officers who served the command over the years.
The award ceremony was held on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, bringing together serving officers, retired personnel, families, colleagues and other guests. The 39 awardees comprised five retired officers and 34 serving personnel.
The Commissioner of Police’s Commendations and Awards were presented as recognition of service to the Nigeria Police Force and the public, with the command highlighting dedication, sacrifice, professionalism and commitment to policing responsibilities.
Five retired officers recognised
The five retired officers honoured at the ceremony included CSP Salami Akanbi Moruf, a former Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit; DSP Olaifa Emmanuel, a former second-in-command of SWAT; DSP Ayanlola Olatunji, former Officer-in-Charge of SIT-REP; DST Saanu John; and DST Anifa Bello.
Their recognition formed a major part of the ceremony, with CP Ojajuni stressing the importance of acknowledging officers who had spent significant portions of their working lives in the Police Force.
Ojajuni said long-term police service involved considerable pressure and responsibility, particularly for officers who spent decades dealing with the demands associated with protecting lives and property.
He said the decision to honour the retirees was intended to ensure that their years of service were recognised rather than simply ending with their retirement.
One of the retired officers recognised was DST Anifa Bello, who had served as a traffic officer in Ogun State. Reports on the ceremony said the recognition of Bello followed earlier recognition of deserving retired personnel by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu at Force Headquarters in Abuja.
34 serving officers also receive commendations
The command also recognised 34 officers who are still serving.
Among those named were SP Shittu Bamidele, Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit; SP Gbenga Ayodele, Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Robbery Unit; DSP Sheriff Balogun, second-in-command of SWAT; ASP Adetutu Adesida, second-in-command of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit; and ASP Ojikutu Akinola, an administrative officer with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
Other serving officers identified among the awardees included ASP Olupona Helen, ASP Jimoh Lasisi, Inspector Balogun Samuel, Inspector Adelaja Oluwatosin, Inspector Ojogo Ogundeji, Sergeant Muhammed Rukayat, Corporal Adenuga Rasaki and Corporal Adeyanju Elijah.
The recognition covers officers serving in different operational and administrative roles within the command, including units dealing with kidnapping, robbery and other security responsibilities.
Ojajuni says recognition should encourage serving officers
Speaking at the ceremony, CP Bode Ojajuni described policing as a demanding national responsibility requiring sacrifice, resilience and professionalism.
He said the awards were not solely about acknowledging past achievements but were also intended to encourage serving personnel to remain committed to their duties.
According to reports of the ceremony, Ojajuni said decades of service, particularly careers spanning about 35 years, represented a substantial contribution to national service.
He also linked the local recognition to a wider effort by the Inspector-General of Police to acknowledge officers who have distinguished themselves during their careers.
The Ogun commissioner said the command considered it appropriate to replicate the recognition within the state by acknowledging other personnel whose work had contributed to policing and public safety in Ogun.
Retirees’ experience seen as part of police institutional memory
A significant theme of the ceremony was the value of experience gained by officers who have retired from active service.
Ojajuni said recognising retired personnel was not simply about celebrating their past careers. He linked the gesture to preserving institutional memory and maintaining connections between serving and retired members of the Police Force.
That approach places retired officers within a broader institutional context. Their experience can remain relevant to the organisation even after they have left active duty, particularly where knowledge of policing operations, investigations, command responsibilities and community relations is concerned.
The command also said the recognition reinforces the principle that commitment to duty and professional service should remain valued within the Police Force.
Senior officers pay tribute to awardees
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Gbenga Adeoye, also paid tribute to some of the retired officers.
He specifically recognised CSP Salami Akanbi Moruf, DSP Olaifa Emmanuel and DSP Ayanlola Olatunji for their diligence, professionalism and service to the nation.
The Divisional Police Officers of Ibara and Aregbe, CSP Lateef Balogun and CSP Rasak Adeoye, respectively, also highlighted the careers of DST Anifa Bello and DST Saanu John.
Reports said Bello enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on September 1, 1991, while Saanu joined the Force on August 1, 1991, placing both among officers with lengthy careers in the organisation.
The involvement of serving commanders and divisional officers at the ceremony underscored the connection between the command’s current personnel and officers who had previously served within its structure.
Retired officers pledge continued support
Speaking on behalf of the retired awardees, CSP Salami Akanbi Moruf thanked the Ogun State Police Command for recognising their years of service.
Moruf said retired officers remained willing to make their experience available whenever their services were required by the Police Force or the wider society.
His remarks reflected one of the central messages of the ceremony: retirement from active police duties does not necessarily bring an end to an officer’s connection with the institution.
Moruf also expressed appreciation to the commissioner and serving personnel who had worked alongside the retired officers during their careers.
Serving awardees promise continued commitment
Representing the serving officers, SP Shittu Bamidele thanked CP Ojajuni and the command for the recognition.
Bamidele pledged that the recognised personnel would continue to support professional, responsive and people-oriented policing.
The commitment is significant because the awards were presented at a time when policing institutions across Nigeria continue to face complex responsibilities involving public safety, criminal investigations, violent crime, kidnapping and community security.
For the Ogun command, recognising officers working in specialist areas such as anti-kidnapping, anti-robbery and SWAT also places attention on the operational roles performed by personnel across the state.
Families also recognised for supporting police careers
The ceremony also acknowledged the role played by the families of retired officers.
CP Ojajuni reportedly noted that families shared some of the pressures and challenges associated with police careers, particularly where officers were required to work under demanding and potentially dangerous conditions.
Recognising families adds another dimension to the ceremony because police service can affect not only the officers themselves but also relatives who live with the uncertainty, transfers, long working hours and risks associated with the profession.
The presence of families, colleagues and well-wishers at the event therefore provided a wider setting for acknowledging the personal and institutional dimensions of long-term police service.
Ceremony concludes with call for professionalism
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Oliver Ezirim, delivered the vote of thanks at the ceremony.
The event brought together members of the Ogun State Police Command, retired officers and their families to mark the service of the 39 awardees.
The command said the recognition reflected its emphasis on merit, institutional experience and professional standards.
For serving officers, the awards provide a formal recognition of personnel working across different areas of the command. For retired officers, the ceremony provides an opportunity for the institution to publicly acknowledge careers that in some cases spanned several decades.
The development also highlights the importance of institutional continuity within law enforcement. As experienced officers leave active service, preserving professional knowledge and maintaining links with retired personnel can contribute to the continuity of organisational experience.
The Ogun State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to professional, responsive and people-oriented policing while encouraging personnel to uphold integrity, discipline, dedication and professionalism.
What readers should know
The September 28 ceremony recognised 39 officers in total — five retired and 34 serving personnel. It was held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, and was led by Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni.
The recognition covered officers with responsibilities ranging from anti-kidnapping and anti-robbery operations to SWAT and other policing duties. It also placed particular emphasis on recognising retired personnel and preserving the institutional experience they accumulated during their careers.
The event therefore served both as a commendation ceremony and as a statement about the command’s approach to recognising service, professional commitment and continuity within the Nigeria Police Force.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- The Guardian — report on the Ogun State Police Command’s commendation ceremony and recognition of retired officers.
- News Express Nigeria — report on CP Bode Ojajuni’s recognition of retired and serving officers.
- News On The Move Online — details of the 39 awardees and the ceremony in Abeokuta.
- News Barrel — report on the five retired and 34 serving officers recognised.
- Blueprint Newspapers — coverage of the recognition of DST Anifa Bello and 38 other officers.
