Story by Iyiola Ayomide
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Adegoke Fayoade, has made a case for more Police officers to be drafted to the Command in addition to creating more divisional police headquarters in the state. This, according to him, is to meet the United Nation’s standard of one policeman to 400 hundred citizens, and also contend with the geometric increase of Lagos population, noting that crime and criminality has reduced to the barest minimum since he became CP.
The Lagos CP made this assertion while receiving a former Commissioner of Police of the state, who is now the Deputy Inspector-General of Police of charge of the FCID, and the Southwest in general, DIG Alabi during an elaborate occasion which the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) attended.
It gives me great delight today to have the opportunity to welcome my Oga, the quintessential, cerebral and pragmatic DIG FCID, who doubles as the DIG in charge of south west. When I look back at About 30 years ago when we both started policing in Abia state, We have every reason to give glory to the Almighty God who in his infinite mercy saw us this far. Our distinguished Guest was the 37th Commissioner of Police, in this great state which remains the melting point of many Nigerians, the center of excellence, state of aquatic splendor and the economic hub of Nigeria, the west African sub region and indeed Africa.
The Lagos State Police Command was created in May, 1967 with four (4) area commands and twenty-two (22) Divisions. It was meant to cater for a population of barely over two million people. However, as the state continue to grow is size, population and status, the Command on the other hand, equally witnessed a corresponding growth in structure and manpower. The command can presently boast of fourteen (14) Area Commands, One Hundred and Ten (110) divisional headquarters, Eighty-Six (86) Police posts with a total staff strength of Eighteen Thousand and Ninety Six (18,096) personnel to cater for the security needs of Lagos State. It is important and necessary to point out that the state is in dire need of more policemen and more divisional Police Headquarters, to meet the United Nation’s standard of 1 policeman to 400 hundred citizens and contend with the geometric increase of Lagos population.
To achieve the desired socio-economic development and usher in a new dawn of opportunities for our people, the issue of insecurity. Which constitutes serious threat to lives and property, hinders business activities and discourage local and foreign investors, stifles and retards socio-economic development need to be tackled with passion and unwavering commitment.
It is however gratifying to note that since the introduction of people centered, collaborative and co-operative, crime prevention strategies by the dynamic and tireless commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Crime and criminal activities in this area and indeed Lagos State has reduced drastically to a tolerable level. The strategies adopted include;
a. Prevention strategies e.g. (Intelligence raids of criminal hideouts, cordon and search) etc.
b. Intelligence led policing.
c. Use of modern technology device(s) (scientific aid) to track down dangerous criminals e.g. Kidnappers, Armed robbers, car hijackers etc.
d. Extensive and Intensive Patrol
e. Community Policing Strategy.
f. Stop and Search
g. Accessibility/Visibility Policing.
h. Robust/synergy and Collaboration with other Security Agencies.
i. Synergy with other relevant institution/department (security stack holders).
j. Community partnership and engage with all segment of the society – PCRC,CDA, Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Hunters, VSO/VGN, formal and informal security outfit, etc.
k. Intelligence led policing. Emphasis is on using intelligence gathered from various sources as guide to our operation. Monthly meeting with all stakeholders, such as CDAs, Traditional Rulers, Baales, Fishermen, unions leader, Hunters, VSO/VGN, NGO/Press groups, Students, Leaders, Community Heads, Corporate Organization etc. both at Command and divisional level have assisted on intelligence gathering and effective collaboration in the safety and security of the Lagos and its environs.
In addition to various strategies put in place, the command equally engaged in capacity building by training and re-training of our personnel to meet with and counter the growing sophistication of criminality in the command. The society is dynamic, thus, the modus of our crime prevention must and should be dynamic and responsive and equipped enough to meet with the changing security challenges facing us.