Lagos police arrest  889 suspects in 8 months

By Patience Ogbo

The Commissioner of police in Lagos state, CP Hakeem Odumosu said that 889 persons were arrested for armed robbery and cultism between January and August, 2021.

Odumosu disclosed this on Thursday while hosting the Assistant Inspector-General [AIG] Zone 2, AIG Johnson Kokumo, who was on a familiarisation visit to the Lagos state police command.

He said that 490 suspected armed robbers and 297 suspected cultists were arrested at different parts of the state during the period, stressing that no personnel of the command was killed within same time.

Odumosu said that 173 assorted arms, 239 ammunition of various calibrea  were also recovered from the suspects.

He said 42 cars stolen by criminals were recovered within few days of theft and were subsequently handed over to their owners.

The police boss said the command was embarking on the construction of 50-bed space  to house some junior officers of the command, stressing that they got resources from law-abiding and willing individuals, associations and stakeholders for the project.

Odumosu said the project became necessary in view of the accommodation problem faced by his personnel, stressing that any police posted to Lagos command henceforth, will have a place to stay.

AIG Johnson Kokumo, who commended the CP, officers and men of the command for reducing crimes in the state, urging them to do more.

Kokumo, was however worried over traffic situation in Lagos, calling on the CP and his men to rise to carry out “Operation keep the traffic moving”, stressing that traffic was also responsible for some robbery incidents in the state.

He urged the officers and men to rise early to check traffic build-up in their respective areas, stressing that Ogun and Lagos will have a joint patrol to tackle the robbery situation at their border towns, particularly, on the  long bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The AIG said some of his expectations from the officers and men in Lagos include observations of human rights and professionalism in their conducts.

He warned them against corruption, indiscipline and civil matters, stressing that criminal cases were enough to engaged the officers and men.

Kokumo also commended the Lagos state government for providing the logistics, calling the state government for more.

He commended the Lagos state police command for the training and the 50-bedroom project for the junior officers, assuring the CP that his request for logistics will be table before the I-GP.