Uromi 16: PSC Deploys CP Agbonika To Forestall Reprisal Attacks In Edo
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has appointed CP Monday Agbonika of the Police Mounted Troop as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) for Edo State. This appointment comes in the wake of the tragic lynching of 16 hunters in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. CP Agbonika is expected to take swift action to prevent any potential reprisal attacks following the incident.
Agbonika takes over from CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan Otimenyin, and has been specifically tasked with maintaining peace and preventing further violence in the state. The Police Service Commission emphasized the importance of ensuring that the requisite Police departments, particularly the tactical units, are not sidelined in the efforts to address this security challenge.
The PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, confirmed that CP Agbonika underwent a posting interview at the Police Service Commission, which was led by the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, with support from Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, a retired Supreme Court Justice representing the judiciary, and Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary of the Commission.
During the interview, the PSC leadership urged the new commissioner to be proactive, settle into his role quickly, and focus on reducing the crime rate in Edo State. They also reminded him that his actions regarding the suspects arrested in connection with the recent killings will be crucial to his success in managing the state’s security.
In response, CP Agbonika expressed his commitment to abiding by relevant laws in carrying out his duties and reiterated his reliance on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for necessary guidance.
Before his appointment as the Commissioner of Police in Edo, Agbonika served as the Commissioner of Police, Mounted Troop, and Force Equitation Officer at the Force Headquarters. He brings with him over 32 years of experience in various areas of policing, including Operations, Investigation, Administration, Police Public Information, and Area/Divisional Police Management.
His previous postings include Commissioner of Police for Communications (Operations), Deputy Commissioner of Police at INTERPOL, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Lagos, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Operations at the Ports Authority Police Command in Port Harcourt, and Area Commander at various locations, including Ota in Ogun State and Idimu in Lagos, among others.
