The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Bitrus Giwa, on Wednesday decorated 17 newly promoted senior police officers at the Police Officers’ Mess, Enugu.
The officers were promoted to various ranks following their recent elevation by the Police Service Commission (PSC). Among them, one officer was promoted from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), eleven from Superintendent of Police (SP) to CSP, and five from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to SP.
Those decorated from the rank of Superintendent of Police to the Chief Superintendent of Police, included Arua Mba, Ekeruo Nduka, Ntum Onyekachi, Okwa John, Odum Chukwuja (Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad), Ejiofo Peter, and Aja Vitalis, who currently serves as the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Amaechi Idodo Division in Nkanu East Local Government Area.
In his remarks, CP Giwa expressed gratitude to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for recommending the officers to the PSC for promotion.
He described the elevation as both a recognition of hard work and a call to greater service.
“Your elevation doesn’t mean more freedom but more restrictions with additional responsibilities placed on your shoulders,” Giwa cautioned, adding, “If there were certain things we tolerated about you before now, you won’t have it so easy going forward if you think you can continue doing those things.”
The CP reminded the newly promoted officers that their promotion came from God and urged them to remain humble and dedicated to their duties.
“It’s my prayer that this won’t be your final rank in this job,” he said, adding that those awaiting promotion should remain steadfast as “God will do it in His time.”
He emphasized that under his leadership, the command would continue to uphold the ethics and standards of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Everyone of you here knows that there are responsibilities attached to your ranks, and we won’t spare anyone who fails to perform. At the end of the month, the government pays you to do your work,” he stressed.
Giwa further warned officers against acts of malice or abuse of power, noting that postings and assignments in the command would henceforth be based strictly on merit.
“Now that I have an excess of CSPs, postings will be on merit. I won’t try you twice. You must rise to the occasion and improve yourself professionally,” he declared.
He urged the officers to obey only lawful instructions, reminding them that leadership accountability rests on him as commissioner.
“The buck stops on my table. I must put the right people in the right places. You must rise to the occasion, otherwise, I will move you out of your position. Remember, DPO is not a rank but an office,” he cautioned.
Speaking with newsmen after the decoration, CSP Vitalis Aja, one of the newly promoted officers and DPO, Amaechi Idodo Division, expressed appreciation to the IGP and CP Giwa for their roles in his career progression.
Newly Decorated CSP Aja Vitalis and wife Ifunanya
Aja, who previously served as Ambush Commander of the Enugu Command, dedicated the promotion to God and promised, on behalf of his colleagues, to continue serving Nigerians with renewed vigour and commitment.
He pledged that the officers would justify the confidence reposed in them by the Force through diligence, professionalism, and respect for human rights.
