Covid-19: Aswani DPO gets kudos for feeding residents
By Damilola Kushimo
Beneficiaries of food palliatives distributed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Aswani Police Division, CSP Oyin Francess are singing her praises to high heavens.
The outreach programme which involved sensitization on coronavirus and distribution of relief packages comprising food items such as a plate of food, noodles, beans, salt, as well as hand sanitizer, liquid soap, face mask to people in Isolo, Okota and Area F Police Barracks, Ikeja, ended last Saturday
According to Francess, the initiative was part of her series of humanitarian effort and activities that have been on since the lockdown began as a way of giving back to communities she once served.
Her words: “It has been my way of life to look after the welfare of those around and under me. During this lockdown, I was cooking from the house for my personnel in Aswani, even when we were confined to the barrack. I had to hire a caterer to do the cooking twice a day as we thought the lockdown would only last for two weeks. But when it was extended I couldn’t do it twice a day, but once daily.
She said she noticed that members of the community joined the queue when she served officers adding that it encouraged her to extend the gesture to the residents.
« I thought of extending the gesture to other members of the community that I am policing and that is what we are doing; feeding my immediate community and extending it to two others places I have worked which are Okota Police Barracks and Area F Barracks.”
Speaking about the programme, the Station Officer (SO), Aswani Division, ASP Barnabas Atoba, said the gesture as displayed by her boss was to further show the friendly and humanitarian nature of police officers beyond their primary security obligations to the residents.
One of the beneficiaries living at Karimu Street, Isolo, Mr. Olalekan Dada said: “She is an exemplary police officer who we’ve been so lucky to have in our community. For organising this kind of lifesaving programme, we pray that Almighty God keep elevating her.”
Another beneficiary, Mr. Odetunde Akinsola of Akinbode street: “I am impressed by what this woman has done today. We appreciate her for this pleasant surprise. We hope other people who have the financial capacity will be motivated by her good works to reach out to the community especially at this time that many people are finding it hard to get over the effects of the lockdown. More promotions for her by God’s grace. »
A beneficiary at the Okota Police Barracks, Mrs. Chizoba Amadi, said it was the first time a police officer would reach out to residents of the barracks since the coronavirus crisis began.
She said: “I am happy, she has done great. This is the first time of receiving such from a police officer in the barracks. She is a mother. We pray for God’s unending grace in her life.”
