Edo State’s police force has made history with the arrival of Ms. Betty Otimenyin, the state’s first female Commissioner of Police. She arrived at the Police Command headquarters shortly before 10 a.m., where she was welcomed with a formal inspection of the guard mounted in her honor.
Otimenyin, who is the 49th individual to hold this position in Edo, succeeds Umoru Ozigi, who retired on Saturday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60. Her appointment not only reflects a commitment to gender diversity within the police force but also brings a wealth of experience to her new role.
In a brief interaction with journalists following her arrival, Otimenyin, a native of Edo, emphasized her dedication to combating crime in the South South region. “I will do a lot of things until the crime level comes down,” she stated.
The new commissioner also highlighted her intention to address internal issues within the command, particularly focusing on extortion among officers. “We will also look at extortion (among the men and officers) of the command. The Inspector-General of Police frowns at it,” she added.
Furthermore, Otimenyin expressed her commitment to enhancing the safety and protection of vulnerable groups, stating that the command would adopt a tougher stance on violence against women and children.
Otimenyin began her career in the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant of Police (ASP) in 1992. Before her recent assignment in Edo, she held several key positions, including serving as Commissioner of Police in the Force Intelligence Department (FID).
As she embarks on this new chapter, Otimenyin’s leadership is anticipated to bring positive changes to the police landscape in Edo State.
