Report confirms Oshodi crime status getting better
By Abolaji Adebayo
Things are changing for the better in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area (LGA), hitherto considered a den of bad boys, according to a report of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. Only 171 inmates out of 30,107 inmates so far captured on the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS) come from the local government.
This represents 0.57 per cent of total number of inmates captured and places the local government sixth in terms of the number of inmates arrested per local government.
According to the first quarter of 2020 report of the LCIS, Oshodi-Isolo is trailing local governments such as Ibeju Lekki, Alimosho, Apapa, Ikorodu and Ojo which placed first to fifth on the ladder respectively.
The report, which took the count of inmates who passed through the criminal justice system in the five Custodial Centres (prisons) of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Lagos State records that Ibeju-Lekki has the highest number of persons arrested for various crimes with 300 (1.00%); Alimosho, 245 (0.81%); Apapa, 229 (0.76%); Ikorodu, 201 (0.67%) and Ojo, 178 (0.59%).
ECHONEWS gathered that the common crimes in Oshodi-Isolo include breach of peace, cultism/unlawful society, fraud, robbery and defilement.
The LCIS report released by the Office of the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice stated that there are five Custodial Centres (Prisons) in Lagos State with built capacity for 3,872 inmates, while the actual total number of inmates at the Centres as at the time of filing the report was 9,053, about 140% over the official capacity.
The custodial centres, located in Ikoyi, Kirikiri, and Badagry include the female, medium and maximum custodial centres in Kirikiri while others serve as medium custodial centres.
The reports indicated that 54 per cent of the suspects processed during the period under review do not have legal representation, and majority are for minor offences.
This, according to the report, is an improvement over last quarter data of 82 per cent.
The status of the inmates processed through the system between January and March, 2020 further showed that 86 per cent are awaiting trial, 6 per cent have been convicted, 1 per cent on remand while 7 per cent have so far been released.
A breakdown of the inmates per other local governments where crimes were committed include location of crime committed is as follows: Ikeja, 175; Oshodi, 171; Eti Osa, 126; Lagos Mainland, 117; Kosofe, 95; Mushin, 90; Lagos Mainland, 88; Surulere, 82; Somolu, 79; Agege, 77; Amuwo Odofin, 65; Badagry, 59; Ajeromi Ifelodun, 48; Epe, 16; and Ifako Ijaiye, 10.
The report further indicated that the prevailing offences committed by inmates in Correctional Centres within the period under review included stealing, breach of peace and cultism.
The inmates by offence type are as follows: stealing, 42%; breach of peace, 16%; cultism/unlawful society, 9%; assault, 5%; obtaining by false pretence, 5%; armed robbery, 4%; murder, 3%; fraud, 3%; defilement, 2%; and tampering with oil pipeline, 2%.
The statement also noted that the report contained important information showing the status of Domestic and Sexual offenders and efforts of the Directorate of Public Prosecution at ensuring prompt issuance of legal advice.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), stated that the Lagos State Criminal Information System is designed to improve the administration of justice and strengthen the Rule of Law.
He reiterated that Lagos state and Lagos State Ministry of Justice will continue to be the Leaders in the Justice Sector Reform in Nigeria.
