The late Chief Security Officer (CSO) of former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Victor Richard Ojong who died in Abuja on December 31, 2023, has been laid to rest.
He was buried in his hometown Akparabong, Ikom Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The funeral service of the deceased ASP, a long-time CSO of the erstwhile Senate Leader, a gentleman and excellent police officer known for his unalloyed dedication to duty, was held at his residence in Akparabong and conducted by the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Akparabong, Ikom LGA, in collaboration with the Pilgrim’s Worship Center Ministry Int’l, Calabar.
In a tribute to the late CSO, Ndoma-Egba said: “Any parent’s nightmare is having to bury a child. Victor was a son to me in every way except biology. Writing this tribute and referring to him in the past is therefore a difficult task but I trust God’s knowledge and His will, for matters of life and death are squarely within His province.
“Soon after my election into the Senate in 2003, Dr. Bassey Okim, then the State Security Adviser to Governor Donald Duke informed me that he was going to strengthen my personal security.
“He set up a team ground for me with Supol Ofem Obeten as Chief Security Officer. A few security operatives were attached to him. One of them was Victor who carried out his duties quietly from a distance. He was outstanding from his looks, carriage and professionalism.
“A few years later Supol Obeten had to proceed to the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He recommended Victor as his replacement. It was only then that, years after being with me that I got to realize that like me he was from Akparabong. It was not his place of origin that brought him close, to my family, my political family and friends, and my social friends. It was rather his character of quiet dignity, professionalism, integrity, honesty and trustworthiness that made him central to those in my circle. He became so dependable that it was believed that he became the surest route to me especially after the demise of my dear wife. This was largely correct as he would have mentally processed and appraised every request or situation before he presented same to me. You could not fault his recommendations.
“He soon became Uncle Victor to my household, ‘my personal IG (Inspector General) to Governor Bassey Otu, ‘our man’, to those in my social and personal circles. He was the point man for our Akparabong community at home and in the diaspora.
“Victor was selfless. Everything was about his Oga (that’s me) and others. He was the permanent intercessor for everyone else other than himself. The only time he spoke for himself was when he reminded me of his medication when I was traveling abroad. Even then he got his wife to remind me. He was the essential team player who got along easily with everybody.
“Victor will be greatly missed though I have gained another personal intermediary in Heaven. A good man has gone home.
“To his wife Beatrice and children, we pray that they be consoled by the quality of his life and the fond memories he leaves behind. At a point in our lives, all is memories. To his parents, who have had to bear the loss of two sons within a month, we pray for strength that can only come from God. May he rest in peace.”
Born on April 14, 1971, the late ASP Victor Richard Ojong joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1990 immediately he graduated from the Community Secondary School, Akparabong. While in service, he gained admission into the University of Calabar (UNICAL) where he studied Sociology. He went for further operational security training under the SIB and later a Criminology program in NOUN.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, was former senate leader and also former chairman of NDDC
