Segun Atanda/
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mobolaji Francis Odesanya, is dead, the police authorities announced today.
Fifty-six-year-old Odesanya died at Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad-Gujarat, in India early today.
Newsmakers learnt that he had spent weeks at the hospital.
Odesanya had succeeded retired CP Foluso Adebanjo, as the 37th Commissioner of Police in Rivers on July 12, 2016. But for his death, he was expected to retire from the Force on February 1, 2021.
Newly appointed police spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, conveyed the Inspector General of Police’s condolence message, this afternoon, in his very first statement since he assumed duty yesterday.
The statement reads in part: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss regrets to announce the demise of a serving Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command who passed on at the age of 56 years during a brief illness at Sterling Hospital Ahmedabad-Gujarat in India.
“The late Commissioner of Police was enlisted into the Force on the 1st February, 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the rank. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police Department of Operations and that of Finance and Administration in Rivers State before he was promoted and posted as Commissioner of Police Rivers State Police Command on the 20th July, 2016, the position he held until his sudden demise on 31st January 2017…
“The Inspector General of Police and his management team, on behalf of the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force wish to commiserate with the ODESANYA family of Ikenne Town, Ogun State, the Government and good people of Ogun State on the demise and passage unto glory of their illustrious son, CP. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace and the good Lord grant his family and the Government and good people of Ogun State the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
Moshood disclosed that a condolence register has been opened at the reception of the Force Headquarters and Rivers State Police Command Headquarters, Port Harcourt, for the personnel of the Force and members of the public to append their condolence messages.
“Burial arrangements will be announced after consultation with the family,” he said.
Odesanya was one of the most outstanding CPs in 2016 recently celebrated at an award ceremony.
Crime reporters today recalled Odesanya’s daring exploits over the years, especially in Lagos where he was a thorn in the flesh of bank robbers as the Area ‘G’ Commander.
The Crime Editor of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Emma Nnadozie described Odesanya as an unrepentant workaholic.
He said, “An Iroko in the Force has fallen. Bolaji was very amiable and accommodating. We will miss him greatly.”
Another journalists, Mr Folorunsho Atta, described Odesanya as one of the finest officers the police had ever produced.
Praying that God should grant Odesanya rest, a senior police officer, DCP Dan Okoro, described him as “one of the astute CPs of our time”.
Born on April 26, 1961, Odesanya held a BSc in Political Science and LLB in Law.
Odesanya’s most celebrated achievement is documented on this website:http://www.chiefdetective.com.ng/2014/08/how-we-recovered-n62m-from-lagos-bank-robbers/
So sad! May his departed soul rest in peace.