Insecurity: CP alleges plot by IPOB to attack Lagos

Amid rising insecurity across Nigeria, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Lagos Command, Hakeem Odumosu, has raised an alarm over alleged plot by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to attack ‘soft targets’ in Lagos.

Odumosu’s allegation comes, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the state government will in the coming days begin full enforcement of the law restricting commercial motorcycles (Okada) in the state.

Odumosu, who delivered a paper on ‘Appraisal of Security Situation in Lagos State’, at a security town hall meeting convened by Lagos State and attended by Sanwo-Olu, top security officials and traditional rulers in Lagos, on Monday, said the threat by IPOB has been put on the radar of the police intelligence gathering and other security services in Lagos.

The CP said the command has also taken note of threats by agitators of Oodua Republic and other Yoruba separatist groups. According to Odumosu, 24 of these groups have been identified and being closely monitored.

He added that strategies are being put in place to neutralise their activities, just as he called on the residents to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious person or movement to security agencies.

“Let us adopt the slogan of ‘when you see something, say something,” he said.

Another major security challenge being faced by the command, according to the CP, is the use of motorcycles as a means of transportation in the state.

“A combination of factors can be identified as being responsible for the advent of motorcycles as a means of intra-city transportation in Lagos State.”

“Foremost amongst these, is the quest of the government to expand the land transportation system and provide employment opportunities to the citizens.

“This made the government to at the onset, grant approval for commercial motorcycle operations in the state with necessary legislation to regulate their activities.

“The government’s good intention of providing additional means of land transportation and creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths, has been negated by the atrocities being perpetrated by the Okada operators in the state. This include, the use of Okada as a veritable tool to commit crime and get away with it by hoodlums; disrespect to traffic rules and regulations; the Okada operators becoming nuisance and reckless on our roads, resulting into avoidable accidents with attendant consequences on human life,” he said.

Meanwhile, all shanties across the state would also be demolished. Similarly, abandoned structures and vehicles are also likely to be confiscated as part of measures to forestall possible break down of law and order in the state.

These were part of communique issued at the end of a one-day security stakeholders meeting which held at Alausa, Ikeja.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said, “In recent times, we have recorded a worrying trend of nefarious activities in the State; from kidnappings, armed robbery, cult clashes and violent assaults.

“We have tried, as a state, to respond in real time to the majority of these challenges, and have deployed a range of tactics from force-for-force, to carrot-and-stick to diplomacy, and now this 3 multi-stakeholder town hall event to which we have invited everybody across various stakeholder platforms to deliberate and proffer solutions; after which we will make some pronouncements that are intended to go a long way in addressing the majority of the identified challenges we have today.

“Conceptually speaking, it is important to cast this discourse into proper perspective in order to appreciate the import of this gathering today and the objectives thereof.

“Consequentially, to advance our interests and objectives as a state, in the context of security, is to ensure that we contain and arrest every form of aggression and crime that threatens the development, progress and growth of the state; and by so doing improve upon the welfare and quality of life of the citizens.

“For us in Lagos State, there is a direct correlation between security and long-lasting economic growth and development. We cannot speak of a 21st century megacity and the vision of a Greater Lagos if we are unable to assure and guarantee the security of our citizens and their properties.

“Not too long ago, we witnessed the mayhem that was unleashed in the aftermath of the ENDSARS protests here in Lagos in which a high-level of destruction and carnage ensued, including the destruction of police force units and commands, following clashes between criminal gangs and law enforcement officers.

“The resultant effect of the ENDSARS mayhem has contributed in no small way to the severely fragmented security architecture that we have today,” he said.

He added that his administration has risen up to the arduous challenge of arresting this general state of insecurity with all the resources we have at hand.

“Over the last couple of weeks and months, and in direct response to the growing spate of violence and insecurity in the state, we have instituted a number of measures designed to curb the activities that engender insecurity, all with a view to securing our state.

Some of the measures we have rolled out include: Monitoring of Abandoned Buildings and Properties:

“Having seen a general trend of hoodlums and miscreants converting abandoned buildings and construction sites within the State into crime havens, from which they plan and launch their criminal missions, the State Government has taken active steps to curb this menace, by commencing the full implementation and enforcement of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended.

“This law prohibits the abandonment of buildings, whether under construction or completed, and also prohibits construction workers from remaining within the premises of buildings under construction, from 6pm daily. We will hold property developers and owners responsible for any breaches of these laws, and will not hesitate to seal off defaulting buildings,” the governor said.