ENDSARS: Burnt police stations wear new look

By Motolani AbdulGafar

Two years down memory lane after the havoc of the EndSARS protest, most of the damaged police stations in Lagos State are now wearing new look with modern construction format and security gadgets.

Lagos residents commended the government over the renovation of the burnt police stations across the state while appealing for timely completion of the remaining ones to curb insecurity in some communities.

More than 20 police stations were reportedly burnt in the state during the EndSARS protests in October 2020.

A police source told ECHONEWS that many of the stations are 90 per cent completed and would soon be commissioned by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba and handed over to their respective Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

Already, some have been completed and opened for use such as Pen Cinema Police Station and some many others across the state.

ECHONEWS observed that unlike the previous designs, some of the newly renovated stations are constructed in a house format, with Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and video recording technology installed to prevent human rights abuses.

Also, the colour has improved with light grey, cream and its traditional green, yellow and navy line with a black see-through black gate.

Some residents, who spoke to ECHONEWS on the new development commended the government and individuals who supported the renovation in their various communities.

A resident, Adetunji Abolade commented that the reconstruction of the stations would bring respite for the police officers and also ease the security challenges in the communities.

Another resident, Fatai Ademola noted that arms and ammunition were carted away while some detainees were also set free at Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah.

He stated that following the incident, police officers had been operating with difficulties since there was no office for them.

He said the community has been to their aid by providing them canopies, chairs and vans for them to operate, adding that the renovation of the station would further boost their  morale and give them confidence to do their job.

The leadership of Ilasamaja International Market expressed joy over the relocation of the burnt Ilasamaja police station to the market.

While assessing its effects since the station was relocated to the market, the market leaders said that the presence of policemen has been worthwhile, insisting that the station should be permanently domiciled in the market.

According to them, the experience of the community during the short time the police operated from Area D following the EndSARS crisis was terrible before the police were brought back to the community to carry out their security surveillance.

Ilasamaja Divisional Police Station was later moved to a building built by the community inside the market following the destruction of the former station along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway during the EndSARS crisis.

The affected police stations include the ones at Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute-Ero, Pen Cinema, Isokoko and Alade, Cele, Igbo-Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin and the Anti-Kidnapping Station at Charley Boy Bus Stop.

Police operations were hindered in those affected stations but some individuals and Police Community Relations Committees (PCRC) provided alternatives for the running of their operations.

After the ENDSARS saga, the then chairman of Isolo LCDA, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye (Shammeh), pledged to complete a long-abandoned structure to replace the burnt Ilasamaja Police Station.

The council boss had promised that he would complete the station to serve as permanent station for the police in the community following the destruction of the old building formerly used by the police during the EndSARS protest.

However, a new station was built by the community and subsequently relocated the station to Ilasamaja Market.

In 2021, the then Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Hakeem Odumosu, had  said all the police stations burnt in the state were undergoing renovation.

While there is massive renovation of the burnt stations across the state, residents have appealed to the government to visit the remaining few for the benefit of the communities in which they are situated.

Though the burnt Imakiyo Police Post in Bucknor is still under reconstruction, residents want it to be bigger and turn to a full police station, hoping that the reopening of the station will increase the level of security in the area.

One of the residents, Mrs. Ganiyah Yusuf, who is a Point of Sale (POS) operator, stated that the existence of the re-establishment of a police post in the area would help maintain public order and safety, saying the presence of police station and officers in the community would prevent misconducts while detecting and investigating the criminal activities in the area.

She noted that considering her line of career where operators are usually victims of theft, the police officers would in their power put measures to resolve problematic situations that would restore peace in the society.

Also speaking with ECHONEWS, Mr. Aruna Salami, said that the establishment would increase trust and improved community relations as the activities of the officers would prove their efficiency to the public.

He noted that the community would also benefit faster emergency response from the police officers if their point of operation is within the community.

However, traders who experienced pathetic cases of disruption during the EndSARS period narrated that the efficiency of the police force, despite their closeness in the community can only be revived in their hearts if they prove to be more professional than before.

To them, they perceive the reconstruction as a normal activity within the community.

A boutique trader, Tina Ikechukwu, said community policing goes beyond practice rather than theory as the efficiency of the officers cannot be fully guaranteed based on previous experience.

To her, officers tend to favour certain community members or only strongly benefit specific community interests unlike those that are local business owners.

Supporting the opposing perspective, a digital operator, Mr. Shina Akinwale disclosed that the efficiency of the officers can only be trusted if they re-strategise to keep up with the promise of Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

He advised that their re-establishment should be taken as a medium to prove their abilities to the public.

It was gathered that the renovation was carried out by the Federal Government, the state government, communities and individuals.

Meanwhile, there is assurance that the few remaining damaged police stations would soon be renovated to the standards required for modern policing with the necessary equipment.