This DPO loves his job

His name is K. D Abubakar, Chief Superintendent of Police(CSP) and Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Jikwoyi Police Station in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Daily Times ran into the Police Officer while covering Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.

He had jumped down from the back of the Police Pick-Up van, looking smart on his uniform and approached a vendor at a newspaper stand.

“Vendor, you have breached my agreement with you, so you have to pack your things and go,” he ordered as the vendor looked somber and obviously guilty.

“We agreed that you can sell your papers but don’t allow free readers to gather here on election-day, right? I told you that if people gather, argument can break out and could lead to quarrel and therefore breakdown of law and order. That was our agreement. Am

I right,” he asked the vendor.

“You are right sir,” the vendor agreed.

“So I can’t allow you to continue when you have breached our agreement. Anybody that wants to buy paper should buy and leave but you allowed many people to gather here, reading your paper, free. Soon they will start argument and maybe fight. So you have to leave,” he ordered again.

“Ok sir. You are right. Thank you,” the vendor said and folded his papers.

As CSP Abubakar jumped unto the back of the Police van, Daily Times approached him.

“Good morning sir. You seem to be having a good day, enjoying your job,” Daily Times queried.

“You can say that again. It is a national call to duty and you have to do it with cheerfulness. We are dealing with people, human beings and our fellow citizens.

So, while you have to be firm and tough, we need to have human face and use persuasive rather than coercive approach.

“Wao. That’s good to hear from a Police officer Sir. So how is it going, your job, election coverage and security,” Daily Times probed.

“Well, so far, so good. Everywhere have been peaceful as there has been no incidence of violence or attempt to snatch ballot boxes or anything of sort,” he said.

“It seems you are dealing with a smaller population today than was the case the other day. The turnout seems to be low, very low rather, today,” Daily Times asked.

“Well, if you say so. Sure, it seems voter turnout is lower than it was during the presidential election but for us as security personnel, nothing can be taken for granted.

It is the same whether you are dealing with hundred people or with one million people because the life of one citizen matters enough,” he responded.

“How large is your jurisdiction on this election.”

“We are covering from Karu Primary school all through, down to Karshi with so many polling units, but we are coping. We are on top of our game. No problems anywhere.”

“Finally sir, why are you sitting at the back of the van where junior officers sit?”

“I really don’t know about where junior officers or senior officers seat. We are on patrol, on national assignment.

What is important to me and my team is result, to secure the lives of voters, of Abuja residents, in particular, those within my area of coverage. Where I sit doesn’t matter. We are a team,” CSP Abubakar concluded and ordered the vehicle to move on.