Police Clamp Partial Lockdown On Lagos Over Threats From Unknown Gunmen

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State,CP Abiodun Alabi, on Wednesday said that there was a partial lockdown of the state by security agencies due to the threat of attacks by unknown gunmen.

Alabi disclosed this in Lagos during the Lagos State Stakeholders’ Forum on Police Accountability (SFPA)’s quarterly meeting and awards.

Alabi gave a keynote address on “Police Community Partnership: Panacea for Effective Police Performance” at the event supported by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

Alabi said that the partial lockdown was for a purpose, stressing that the police and other security agencies in Lagos were ready for any intrusion from the unknown gunmen.

He said that there were stop-and-search points at different places that had become  part of the security architectures in the state to combat any likely intruder.

The Lagos police boss who said  that though the number of police personnel in the state were inadequate, added that with community/police partnership, the current number could tackle all crimes and criminality.

Besides the threat of attack by unknown gunmen, the Lagos Police boss said that the force was committed to accountability, where those with excellent performances would always be rewarded amongst the personnel, and sanctions would be meted out to  erring and unprofessional ones.

He noted that all the statutory duties of the police were about the protection of lives and properties.

He called on the various  community stakeholders: traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders,  and transporters to always engage the police in their areas for  better policing.

The CP urged  communities not to be afraid of giving information about crimes and criminality in their areas to the police and other security agencies.

He also implored them to always be interested in the activities of the police  and see  the police as their family members and not mere friends.

Earlier, the Coordinator of SFPA, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma,   said that the forum was established in 2018 as an outcome of CSOs and other stakeholders’ engagement with police command in Lagos on issues of police accountability.

Nwanguma, who is also the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), commended the I-GP for punishing those involved in various  unprofessional conducts in the past , stressing that this action was an indication that the I-GP was ready to combat corrupt practices and unprofessional conducts.

On  attack on some policemen by soldiers where an Inspector was killed, Nwanguma called for justice for the dead officer.

He urged the police command and  the Nigerian Army to be responsible for the welfare of  the  widow and the  children of the deceased officer.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four police officers, two from Lagos State command and  two from Oyo State Command recieved awards for outstanding performances.

The Division Police Officer of Anthony in Lagos State command, CSP Patricia Amadi,  was honoured for “Effective Community Engagement, courageous and Exceptional Performance”.

Amadi through her community engagement with the people in her division was able to prevent the police station from being burnt down during the Endsars protests  in 2019.

It was reported that  the protesters only demanded water to drink when they met her face-to- face at the gate of the station then.

Another police officer, ASP Adeyemi Ogunyemi,  from Oyo State Command, was honoured for exhibiting uncommon professionalism and restraint in the face of a provocative attack while on duty during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Ogunyemi was said to have received 13 slaps from a woman while on duty, but never retaliated nor allowed his men to rough handle the woman.

The woman was said to have been later arrested for assaulting an officer. (NAN)

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