By Meletus EZE
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday, honoured the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Badagry Police Station, Mr Samson Akhiromen, with an award for curbing activities of cultists in the coastal city.
The ceremony took place at the at Badagry Divisional Office, Topo Road, Badagry, Lagos.
The Zonal Chairman, South-West, NANS Mr Sulaiman Sanusi, said the award was bestowed on the DPO because of his tireless efforts in reducing cultism in Badagry town.
The student leader said that since the DPO assumed work in the area, crime rate had reduced drastically, adding that Akhiromen had also encouraged cultists to renounce their memberships.
“Great people make things possible; exceptional people make things invertible.
“The commitment you have shown toward curbing the activities of cultists and reducing crime rate in Badagry is second to none.
“You have detested, condemned and fought corruption in all ramifications, these have earned you respect from all.
“On behalf of the 40 million Nigerian students at home and in Diaspora, I hereby pronounce this Exemplary Leadership Award of Excellence as Icon of Humanitarian Services,’’ he said.
Receiving the award, the DPO thanked the association for bestowing him with the award.
Akhiromen said that many associations and societies had suggested giving him awards but he refused, adding that he was grateful for being recognised by NANS.
“I know what cultism is all about, I lost a friend in Lagos State University when I was reading law.
“There was a day that they killed seven students and another day, four.
“When I was posted here, I visited the Oba, Baales, institutions and companies and their fear was cultism.
“Before I came here, there was no day a person would not be killed due to the activities of cultists.
“But as I speak now, every Badagry resident can sleep with two eyes closed.
“I chased them, arrested them and made many of them to renounce their membership.
“Those that renounced their membership, I called them ambassadors and they give me useful information of other activities,’’ he said.
Some officials of NANS: Messrs Ayoade Quadri, the Zone D Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Orimogunje Oluwarotimi, student leader, Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Akure, attended the occasion.
Adeyemi Adeshina, Student Union Executive Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho was also in attendance.
