Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal has expressed concern over complaints from some neighbourhoods in Lagos alleging increase in activities of petty thieves and robbers who specialise in vandalising vehicles parked by roadsides at night.
According to the Lagos State Police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, to reverse the trend, Mr. Edgal has in addition to his directives to Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to carry out strings of operations in their areas of responsibilities.
He also advised all communities in Lagos to appoint chief security officer, CSO among themselves to be coordinated by the CDA of such area.
It will be the responsibility of the CSO to get the phone numbers of DPOs, operation officers and patrol and guard officers closest to them and distribute same widely to members of their community.
It will also be the responsibility of the CSO to arrange for street guards who will keep watch at night and raise the alarm when necessary to frustrate night marauders, and would reinvigorate and coordinate the already existing joint vigilante/police patrol at night between 12 midnight and 4am in conjunction with the DPO of that locality.
In areas where vigilance groups have not been formed in accordance with laid down legal/operational modalities earlier issued by the Commissioner of Police, it will be the responsibility of the CSO to immediately liase with his DPO to ensure that these vigilance groups are set up.
The CP has also observed that the two toll free lines, 767/112 are jammed due to call traffic. To reduce the strain on these lines, the CP has released the following 10 numbers domiciled at the Citizen Complaint Hot Centre (CCHC) for use by communities to alert law enforcement officers are 08067945296, 08063025274, 08063104759, 08113615350, 08113683077, 08096283148, 08096283173, 08089781657, 08126404930, 08081426895.
Furthermore it will be the responsibility of the CSO to ensure that these lines are given widest publicity.
Edgal, also reiterated that security is not only a joint endeavour but an expensive business. He therefore enjoins communities to pay their security dues to enable CSOs to put in place street guards to complement the effort of the police.
He assured Lagosians of security in the remaining part of the yuletide season and enjoins them to celebrate and enjoy moderately during the festive period.