Betty Otimenyin has made history as the first female commissioner of police in Edo State, officially assuming office on Monday.
Arriving at the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command shortly before 10 a.m., Ms Otimenyin inspected the guard of honour mounted in her recognition. She was warmly received by senior officers of the command.
Otimenyin, the 49th commissioner of police in the state, succeeds Umoru Ozigi, who retired on Saturday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In her inaugural address to newsmen, the Edo-born police chief expressed her commitment to reducing crime in the state, emphasising her resolve to tackle key issues, including corruption within the force.
“I will do a lot of things until the crime level comes down,” she said. “We will also look at extortion among the men and officers of the command. The inspector-general of police frowns at it.”
Otimenyin also pledged to focus on addressing violence against women and children, underscoring her determination to protect vulnerable groups in the state.
With a career spanning over three decades, Otimenyin enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1992. She has served in various capacities, including her most recent role as Commissioner of Police, Administration, at the Force Intelligence Department (FID).