Police Cadet ASP Course 21 Celebrates 20th Anniversary Amidst Glitz And Glamour

It was a memorable moment for officers of the police cadet ASP Course 21/2002 set as they celebrated their 20^th anniversary of enlistment into the force on Friday, 19^th of August through to Saturday, 20^th of August, 2022 in Lagos.

The two-day event started with a peace walk from Police College to other parts of Ikeja, Lagos state and its environs. It was no doubt a notable event as many who haven’t seen themselves in years reconnected and brought back beautiful memories of one another.

The chairman of the 20^th anniversary organizing committee, ACP Sanusi Jadda while declaring the event open noted that the two-day event is to celebrate unity, togetherness and several things that bind them together. He explained that many will be retiring from the police force soon therefore, they had to meet to celebrate the journey of 20 years.

‘’By the grace of God we are 20 years today. It’s been 20 years since we all started together precisely on 15th August 2002. Today we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of my course – Course 21, 2002. It will be hard for us to meet together this way again that is why we are meeting now because in the next few years, some will be retiring so we hold this 20th anniversary very dear. This celebration comprises all of us from the whole nation. We have come this far and we have achieved a lot toward crime prevention in Nigeria knowing fully well the challenge been faced by the Police. The activities for the celebration was graciously approved by the IGP Usman Alkali Baba and we give gratitude to him’

‘’We are taking home from this celebration brotherhood, togetherness, unity and a whole lot of things that is still binding us together. The regret for us is that we have lost some of us that we started together to the cold hands of death. It would have been more than this if they were all alive. We have been supporting the families of the departed ones in our little ways and we hope to continue at the end of this 20th anniversary.’’

The Secretary of the anniversary organizing Committee, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi reflected on the sacrifices that comes with the job which includes mental trauma as a major challenge. She explained that the training everyone received since they joined the force has kept them going for twenty years.

She also stated that the leadership of the force has been helpful in protecting officers against mental trauma, while appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari, IGP Alkali Baba for the reforms seen in the force.

‘’ ‘It is a fact that there must be mental trauma associated with this kind of job because every day what you hear from people is bad news when they come to the station. Due to this, when you wake up and you are loaded with such news daily and you have the challenge to be the solution provider, you will be affected but what keeps us going is that from Day 1, we have been trained to be there for others.’’

With the leadership and mentoring we have on the job, it has helped us. There is the Force Medical section where officers going through trauma can go and they talk to counselors and doctors. Most importantly, the leadership of the Police have given order for supervisors to keep watch on their junior ones so that what we won’t have cases of occupational trauma’

‘I will want to thank the Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari that he first started with Police reforms and we all can see the changes. Then with the appointment of our current IGP, you can see that the reforms are such that everyone is shaping in and those who can’t meet up are shaping out. You can see that those who are misbehaving are being thrown out. The IGP is not going by public emotions because he wants the Police to be the best. Only the best can join the Police. If you are not the best, don’t join. It is a matter of time. As we have changes going on in the Police, I advise members of the public to flow with the tide of change. That is why the theme for this celebration is ‘Celebrating 20 Years of Advancing Friendly Policing And Public Safety in Contemporary Nigeria… Work with the Police.’’

Speaking on the challenges faced in the span of 20 years and her projections, the OC Zonal Intelligence Bureau, Zone 2 Lagos, CSP Veronica Ameh Akpa made it known that some of their colleagues lost their lives while doing the job which is very disheartening.

‘‘One of the greatest challenges we have is the loss of some of our colleagues. We started with over 400 and but have lost about 40. Some died while doing the job and it is very disheartening’, she regretted.

‘‘It’s been very tough handling the family with the Police job but our children and husband support us. And with their support, we have made it so far. The number of women in Police has improved greatly. Emphasis is on women. I dream of having a female IGP and I believe Course 21 will make it.’’

The second day of the event started with lectures on the theme ‘Advancing Friendly Policing And Public Safety In Contemporary Nigeria..Walk With The Police’ and other topics that has to do with retirement plans and health concerns of the officers at the prestigious Radisson Blu hotel, Ikeja.

Still on the second day, the fallen heroes from the Police course 21 set were remembered for their good deeds in service while they were honoured with moment of silence as they were all mentioned.

It all ended with a dinner event where guests, officers were treated to sumptuous meals and assorted drinks.