Meritorious and merciless crime burster, Tokunbo Abaniwonda, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, who currently superintends over affairs at the Area M command of the Lagos State Police Command as Area Commander, has attributed her success to God’s directions, the clairvoyance of the Lagos State Police Commissioner; and tactical commitment.
In this no – holds – barred chat with Emeagi Emeka Williams, Editor – in – Chief of Timeswatch News Magazine, elegant, eagle – eyed and vocal Abaniwonda refers to Lagos as unsafe for hoodlums due to the presence of a CP who keeps his men and officers on their toes, and stays so. Excerpt:
INTRODUCING HERSELF BRIEFLY
I am ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda, Area Commander, Area M, Lagos State.
I have served at various formations in various capacities.
I have been DPO Ipaja, Langbasa, Ijede, Alausa etc.
ON SOME OF HER EXPLOITS
I thank God for his leading.
In spite of training and experience, I have worked with great superiors who give super directives and guidance.
I must confess that good job means more work to me, so I do my best always while adhering to directives.
Permit me to say for example, that I assumed office as DPO of Langbasa division and inherited a dying patrol vehicle, but before leaving there after just some months, the station got about 5 serviceable patrol vehicles.
These came through special collaborations with relevant stakeholders.
I never joke with community policing initiatives.
In fact, I was among the first beneficiaries of the training when it came.
Similar stellar success was recorded at Ijede division when I applied strategic style, leveraging stakeholders synergy to avert a serious communal clash between two ethnic nationalities there.
It would have been a bloodbath, but together with the community people, I achieved peace.
Likewise, I co – opted local hunters into my plans to stop and arrest robbers.
The community is called Igbelaara in Ijede area of Ikorodu.
ALAUSA DIVISION: I want to refer to the victory recorded over robbery which was a menace on the popular Otedola bridge.
I worked with the NURTW officials who offered us a commercial bus inside where I and my men disguised as commuters.
Using myself as a bait even as DPO, we were able to arrest the robbers.
In Alimosho (Area M), God is helping me to strike a remarkable difference.
Everyone knows what the terrain used to look like during elections, but I am happy that under my watch, the last local councils election was without violence.
The record changed.
The turn of the last Town Hall meeting held in my command proved how much we value community interactions and collaborations.
The councils chairmen, Obas, traditional chiefs and other stakeholders were here, and it was like a fiesta, like never before.
DESCRIBING LAGOS
I make bold to say that Lagosians are lucky.
Lagos is the safest of all areas of Nigeria presently.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Olohundare Jimoh is a leader that sends his officers on errand and goes ahead.
He arrives the beat or scene before you.
His energy and style are catalysts for performance.
He will keep you on your toes and stays on his – so who are we to slumber?
The former CP (Now AIG) was also a dynamo with electrifying dimensions!
WORD FOR THE YOUTH OF ALIMOSHO, LAGOS
My candid advice to them is to repent or turn a new leaf.
And if they chose crime, here is not there place.
They should leave, or expect us in their very den.
We are quite aware of crime or criminals modus operandi; and we remain ready to explore that to get at them.
We have cameras strategically positioned; get intelligence backing from community partners who we also protect jealously.
DOES ABANIWONDA DO SPORTS TO RETAIN GOOD LOOK?
No, I don’t do sports or any regulated exercise.
I am just how God has made and kept me.
This job I do is enough exercise
(Laughs).
