Late Rivers police boss, Odesanya, buried at Ikoyi cemetery

The late Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Francis Odesanya, was buried yesterday at Ikoyi Cemetery in Lagos.Odesanya died on January 31 at Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad-Gujarat, India after a brief illness. He was aged 56.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a night of tribute and service of songs were held on Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16, respectively, in his honour at the Muson Centre, Onikan and St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos.

The funeral service was held at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba before the body was taken to the cemetery for burial.In his message at the funeral service, Rev. Fr. Stephen Ogbe said while people love to gather for the dead, no one loves death.

Ogbe described the late police commissioner as a dedicated Christian and a hardworking policeman, who excelled in spite of the difficult situation where he served. Ogbe urged his wife and family members to take solace in God, stressing that Odesanya had gone to heaven to rest with the Lord.

A member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Comfort Obi, who interviewed the late Odesanya some months ago before he was promoted to the rank of a commissioner, said: “He was a gentleman, a very responsible officer that knows his job well.”

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, said the Nigeria Police, friends and family would miss Odesanya dearly due to his commitment to his job and people.

Present at the funeral were the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dagogo Peterside; Senator Magnus Abe; and Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Mr. David Ikanya.