A new Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Paul Ojeka Odama, has commenced his duties as the AIG in charge of Zone 11 at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo.
The announcement of his assumption was made in a statement by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Ayeni Benjamin, in Osogbo on Thursday.
Zone 11: Osun and Oyo States
Zone 11 Police Command comprises the states of Osun and Oyo.
The statement further mentioned that the immediate past AIG, Olarewaju Oladimeji, has been redeployed to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where he has already resumed his duties as the Force Secretary.
The Background and Achievements of AIG Odama
AIG Paul Ojeka Odama hails from the Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State and had his early education at Christ the King Primary School in Okpoma. He later attended Mary Knoll College in Ogoja, both in Cross River State.
He holds a B.sc in Sociology from ABU Zaria, PGD in Management from UNICAL Calabar, an MSC in Criminology from ABU Zaria, and an MBA from UNICAL. Additionally, AIG Odama is a Chartered Accountant.
Odama joined the Nigerian Police Force as a Cadet ASP Course 16 member in 1990 and gained invaluable experience in police work at the Kebbi State Command. He served in various positions, including DCO Birnin Kebbi, DPO Koko Besse, Yauri, and Sakaba Divisions.
He was later transferred to Zone 7 Abuja as the O/C Federal Anti-Robbery and subsequently moved to the Abuja FCT Command, where he served as the DPO of Maitama, Lugbe, Kwubua, Buwari, and Gwagwalada.
Furthermore, AIG Odama was deployed to Kaduna State, where he held positions such as DPO Birnin Gwari, Kakuri, Rigachuku, and Angwaa Sanusi Divisions.
Throughout his dedicated career in policing, AIG Odama has represented Nigeria on various international missions. He served in Pristina, Kosovo, and the United Nations Mission in Monrovia, Liberia. In 2008, he joined the UN mission to Estimo, Indonesia, as the District Commander of Oecusse, also known as Oecusse-Ambeno. Notably, he was the only black man among the 13 District Commanders in the country.
AIG Odama has earned several accolades for his exceptional performance. In 2011, he was recognized as the most proactive DPO in Kaduna State, and in 2015, he received the prestigious award for the best Area Commander in Osun State.
On a personal note, AIG Odama has a well-established family life and is happily married with children.
