Stakeholders demand more police officers in Mushin
By Saheed Afolabi
Various stakeholders in Mushin and its environs have appealed to the new Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Idowu Owohunwa, to increase the number of personnel and provide more equipment for the police officers to combat crimes and maintain security in the 10 divisions of the Area command.
The request was made by the stakeholders during a familiarisation visit by the new commissioner of police where members of the community commended the new Area Commander and officers of the various divisions in Area D Police Command for their commitment towards reducing crime and maintaining peace in the 10 divisions under the Area Command.
The CP, who graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a Second Class Upper in International Relations, expressed his vision to succeed with a policy of inclusiveness in his leadership style and good relations with the citizens.
He stated that his purpose for the familiarisation visit was to help him understand the peculiarity of the Area Command through feedbacks from stakeholders on the security challenges and assessment of performance of his officers in order to improve on policing and make the divisions in the command safer and better for everyone to live.
Speaking at the familiarisation visit, the Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye, thanked the Commissioner for the professional and peaceful conduct of his officers throughout the 2023 general elections.
He described the Area Commander, ACP Ibrahim Chika, as a hardworking and intelligent man who is ready and committed to duty.
The council boss commended the Area Commander and his men for having their grip and total control of security in the entire Mushin metropolis since his resumption. He attributed the success achieved during the dislodgement of a group of hoodlums terrorising Itire community to the hardwork and dedication of the Police. He finally encouraged members of the community to express the feelings and challenges they have with officers of the Nigeria police in the Area D command.
His colleague from Ejigbo LCDA. Hon. Monsuru Oloyede Obe, in his comment, described the Area Commander and his officers as dutiful, respectful and committed to duty.
He, however, appealed to the commissioner to help provide brand new operational vehicles for the police with additional manpower, to help the officers perform effectively, especially with the increasing rate of human population and criminal activities in his community.
The two religious leaders, Primate Akindele of Christian Association of Nigeria and Chief Imam of Mushin, Alhaji Sulaiman Olanijo, both poured encomium on men of the Nigeria Police in the Area D command with their Commander.
They requested for the improvement in the welfare packages of the police and provision of more equipment and personnel, for them to operate successfully in the control of crime and security.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the interactive familiarisation visit included members of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), led by Engr. Jacob Ogungbe, Community Development Association (CDA), Ladipo Market Traders and other stakeholders in the 10 Police Divisions under the area command which included Mushin, Itire, Alakara, Ijesha, Aswani, Ajao Estate, Okota, Isolo, Ejigbo and Ilasamaja.
The commissioner of Police who has worked within the ranks and files with wide experience across many states in the country and international trainings with the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in the United States of America, London Metropolitan Police (UK), United Nations, Botswana, Israeli and has written many publications in Criminal Justice, Policing and Intelligence, also worked as principal staff officer with three Inspector General of Police before his promotion and deployment as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
In his final remarks, CP Owohunwa thanked the stakeholders for their observations and appealed to them for more assistance and support for the police. He challenged his officers to sustain their level of diligence in their services and maintain cordial relationship with the stakeholders.
He regretted the unfortunate incident which occurred at Okota which left a Police Inspector dead with the DPO injured. He however confirmed the arrest of motorcycle operators at the Okota spot where the incident occurred with over 300 motorcycles impounded in the operations carried out on 13th April, 2023.
The police commissioner expressed that “Lagos State has a history of diligent, hardworking and courageous officers who work round the clock”. He stated that Okada is a menace in Lagos and should not be allowed to make the state ungovernable. He said “No state can grow through disobedience to constituted authorities.”
He declared that those who feel the way to go is by attacking his men would face the full wrath of law.
According to the Lagos police boss, “Anyone, either cultist or area boys, who lifts his hands against the police in the course of their duty, will be dealt with, under the constitutional provisions guiding their operations”.
He declared that the battle line has been drawn at the exact location where his officers have been attacked.
He admonished members of the community to be on guard against inflammable information that could trigger public unrest.
He commended members of PCRC for their support since 1980s and encouraged them not to relent in their assistance to the police. He ordered the Area Commander and the Divisional heads of the 10 police divisions to always convene a quarterly interactive meeting with members and stakeholders in their various communities and send the reports to his office.
