The Gombe State Police Commissioner, CP Oqua Etim, says he gives all glory to God as he bows out from active service, after clocking 60 years of age and 33 years of active service as a fulfilled man, healthy and articulate.
“It is not easy to do a job like ours and then come out whole, after 33 years. So, God has been very, very, very, very kind to me and can’t thank him enough. I am highly elated!”
CP Etim told journalists in Gombe after a Farewell Parade and a valedictory reception held in his honour by the Gombe State Command. 
He described himself as a Gombe-Man, because of the love shown to him by the people of the state, after serving in the state for almost one year, from November 11, 2022, as the 21st Commissioner of Police in Gombe State.
CP Etim laments that the greatest security threats for Gombe State are the issues of Kalare Boys and drug abuse, while kidnapping has also become domesticated in the state.
He explained that kidnapping had become domesticated because they happen in places where there were no police patrols, in the hinterlands, because they don’t report them to the police, but somehow accept it as a normal practice.
The outgoing Gombe CP said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was working to tackle the security challenges the state was facing, the top of which was the engagement of the youths through gainful employment.
“When youths are gainfully employed, their minds will be off crime. He is hoping to re-equip technical schools and skills acquisition centres, where these children will be engaged in skills so that now that the Kolmani Oil exploration is going to commence fully, they don’t need to go to China, or Korea to get artisans. He wants to train the children on all sorts of welding, drilling, carpentry and all sorts of things to fit into the mandate of oil exploration,” CP Etim said.
He believes the street miscreants would be motivated and spurred to leave crime and opt for making genuine money through oil exploration jobs.
Above all, CP Etim called on the people of the state to speak out against what they observe to be a threat to the security and peace of Gombe State, by giving information on what they see and observe as a security breach.
“We are not asking you to go and pursue an armed robber; you could be in your neighbourhood and know that a particular motorcycle comes out with a particular neighbour, carrying things at 3 a.m. ‘Which supermarket did he go shopping? “ CP Etim admonished.
He gave the assurances that the identity of informants would be protected against victimization by the public for reporting crime, saying the successes recorded by the command became possible through such useful information by the public, whose identities had been protected.
According to him, strong ties or collaboration between the different sectors of the community, irrespective of their position in the society, would enhance the security situation of the state.
He decried underfunding of the Nigeria Police, but that if the force was well funded, 85% of Nigeria’s problem would be tackled.
“If Naija Police is well funded, I don’t think we won’t be able to conquer 85% of our problem in this country. Now to fuel a vehicle, how many litres of fuel can the government give you to operate in a day?” CP Etim queried.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented at the farewell Parade by his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, appreciated CP Etim for the sacrifice rendered to keep Gombe State secured and in collaboration with sister security agencies in the state.
He encouraged the retiring CP not to be relaxed in his retirement, but to see it as an opportunity to pick up another aspect of life, while urging him to remain connected to Gombe State with his expertise to help the state in maintaining peace and security.
The Governor also commended the collaboration and contributions of traditional and religious leaders for collaborating with the security agencies and providing security for the state.
He urged security agencies and traditional rulers to be prepared to tackle security issues, which may arise from the taking off of the Kolmani Oil exploration, as well as the Manto Tomato Paste Factory and the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park.
“When you have good things, the people that come are both good and bad. Therefore, it is your responsibility as law enforcement agents, as traditional rulers and whatever leader you are you have to ensure that you can detect effect arrests of the bad people that may likely come because of the blessings that we have,” said Governor Yahaya.
He said the incoming CP and every stakeholder should be prepared for the challenges ahead to maintain the feat that Gombe State had attained so far in the security and peace in the state.
