National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
…as Lagos records lowest robbery attacks in a year
By: Okosun Dennis
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, has said that cases of armed robbery attacks in the state have drastically reduced to the barest minimum, especially since the ban on commercial motorcycle riders in some parts of the state.
He said the continuous enforcement of the ban on motorcycles operation in major parts of the state has reduced incidents of robbery in traffic occasioned by the use of motorcycles as a getaway, adding that it is becoming a thing of the past.
CP Alabi who gave his Security scorecard at the 16th Annual Town Hall meeting on Security with the Governor on Thursday, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, had his brief covering between October 2021 to September 2022.
Stating that Lagos State is fast moving from its Mega City status to a Smart City, he observed that these features have placed daunting security challenges at the doorsteps of the Command, as no investors would invest his/her money in any State where there is insecurity.
However, with all hands on deck and with the implementation of various proactive and intelligence driven crime prevention strategies, such incidents as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, cultism, defilement, cyber-crimes, terrorism, fraud, carjacking, trans-border crimes, civil unrest, violent protests and targeted attacks on Government facilities by aggrieved groups have been brought to the barest minimal.
However, he noted that not only were such cases recorded diligently investigated, the suspects were arrested, prosecuted and convicted by courts accordingly.
A summary of his scorecard revealed that the Command within the period under review recorded only 21 successful armed robbery incidences out of the 170 robbery incidents carried out by the hoodlums, 149 were foiled, with 146 suspects arrested in connection with the crimes.
128 suspects were arrested and charged to court while investigation into the cases involving others are ongoing.
In the same vein, the CP added, 52 cults related cases were booked and arrest of 240 cultists were recorded during the period. All suspects have been arraigned before the court and their trial is progressing.
“While 82 arms were recovered with 359 ammunition recovered; about 488 other dangerous weapons and cudgels were recovered. Also, 8,105 motorcycles were contravened for flouting restricted order in the state while 87 rape/defilement cases were reported. However, 77 suspects were arrested for rape and defilement, 272 cases were charged to court.
Alabi applauded the logistics support by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) which has created a conducive working environment and platform to discharge their statutory duties without hindrance.
He explained, “The periodic meetings of Mr. Governor with the Management Team, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and other Tactical Heads and regular payment of allowances to the field officers and men, have boosted their morale and reinforced their commitment to the fight against crimes and criminalities in the State.
“I am using this medium to express gratitude to the Representatives of the State in the National/State House Assemblies and Local Governments/Local Councils Development Areas, who have one way or the other donated vehicles and other working tools to ease our job.
“The Command would continue to rely on logistics support from the State Government, Lagos State Security Trust Fund and all other stakeholders in other to sustain the current tempo against crimes and criminalities in the State.
On combating crimes during this Ember months, CP Alabi noted that the command has re-strategized by putting measures in place to counter the nuisance value of criminal activities by ensuring that the security of lives and properties are safe in the State.
While reeling out its challenges, the police boss revealed that inadequate patrol vehicles and unserviceable ones due to old age and overused are some of its bane.
“Frequent breakdown of Command’s communication system hinders their inabilities to promptly and effectively respond to distress calls from victims of crimes or those in danger.
He called on Lagos residents to continuously be law abiding and avail the police of information while admonishing the residents to embrace the mantra of “When you see something, you say something” so that the police can act promptly and do something.
