Oyo Police boss supports OSABA’s bid to rid boxing of criminals

Commissioner for Police, Samuel Adegbuyi, has pledged to help the Oyo State Amateur Boxing Association (OSABA) flush out the hoodlums using the sport as guise for criminal activities in the state.

Speaking while hosting OSABA members led by Baron Akintunde Opaleye at the weekend, the commissioner expressed his love for the sport that brought the first sporting glory to Nigeria in the 60s.

Opaleye had earlier appealed to the law enforcement agent to help in regularising the activities of the numerous boxing clubs scattered around the state in order to identify and register the genuine trainers among them.

“We have almost one thousand boxing clubs in Oyo State, according to our investigation and that is why it became necessary to monitor their activities in order to rid off some elements that operate criminal dens in the guise of training boxers,” Opaleye noted.

The OSABA boss also offered the well equipped Chief Francis Aiyegbeni Boxing Gym, which his body operates, to Nigerian Police boxers for training. This, he said, will encourage the sport within all paramilitary agencies, especially “the Nigerian Police that has a fantastic record in producing notable boxers for the country.”

The commissioner in his response commended the efforts of the Oyo Boxing Association, while pledging his support to its activities. He agreed it was necessary to monitor boxing clubs owing to their large numbers and the crime tendency.