ISWAP/BH scare puts Lagos on lockdown

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 intruders.

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.

Alabi 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.