Betty Otimenyin officially took office as Edo State’s first female Commissioner of Police on Monday, January 27.
She arrived at the Police Command headquarters just before 10 a.m. and was greeted with a guard of honour. Otimenyin, the 49th person to hold the role in the state, succeeded Umoru Ozigi, who retired on Saturday, January 25, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In a brief interview with the press, Otimenyin, a native of Edo State, highlighted her commitment to reducing crime throughout the region. “I will do everything I can to bring down the crime rate,” she stated. She also assured the public that the command would take a strong stance against corrupt practices, such as extortion, in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s directives.
Additionally, Otimenyin vowed to strengthen efforts to combat violence against women and children in the state. She has been with the Nigeria Police Force since 1992, joining as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Throughout her career, she has held several significant roles, including serving as the Commissioner of Police in the Force Intelligence Department (FID), where she managed operations.
