Crime: Lagos CP Reads Riot Act To Robbers

The Commissioner of Police , Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has read a riot act to armed robbers terrorising the state, warning them to leave the state or be crushed by the security operatives.

Owoseni, who dangled the axe yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after the State Security Council meeting chaired by the Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said the security operatives in the state have changed their tactics to crush the robbers.

According to him, the state government has declared zero tolerance for criminal activities, adding that the problem of traffic robbery will soon be a thing of the past.

He said, “We looked at the security challenges we are facing in the state and the need to rededicate ourselves and commit our personnel to address the challenges. As we approach the yuletide, we want to ensure that we are able reduce the crime rate in the state. We want to reassure the residents of Lagos that the government is committed to their safety. 

“We have appraised the activities of the security agencies in the state. We concluded that within the past few weeks, we have seen the reduction in some of the incident. 

“And we do not want to rest on our oars. We have decided to recommit ourselves and be more visible on the roads and ensure that enforcement is decisively carried out.”

Harping on the threats posed by abandoned buildings, Owoseni said the security agencies had intensified efforts to rid the buildings of miscreants.

Owoseni said, “That had been done. If you go to Falomo, that is one of the issues that was identified there. The place has been rid of miscreants that once occupied the place. Some uncompleted buildings in other areas have been raided including Ebute-Meta. They are now free of miscreants. The state government is working to get owners of abandoned buildings just as approvals issued would be revoked.”

He debunked the insinuation that the police had been overwhelmed and lacked the capacity to combat crime in the state, saying that ,” We have not been overwhelmed in personnel or equipment.