The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola and the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar on Monday directed the police authority in the state to fish out armed robbers that terrorized some parts of Lagos metropolis on Sunday, killing six people including three policemen and injured several others.
The duo spoke in Alausa during the official presentation of 114 security vehicles donated by 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the state, also the launching of other security items procured under the auspices of the State Security Trust Fund at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Mr Fashola said that he knows how the Police officers feel because they were constrained to reduce civilian casualty when they responded to the attacks.
He, however, added that they must do whatever they have to do in not only protecting the state but to find the armed men who attacked the State.
“You must find those men who dared to attack us and it is by bringing those men to justice that your colleagues who died during the attacks would not have died in vain. We have walked this road before and we succeeded. Those who threaten us must be ready to spend better than us and they must be ready to fight harder than us because we will win”, he added.
While urging everyone to remain calm as the State Government is on top of the situation, the Governor gave a commitment to the families and dependents of the officers who lost their lives during the incidents that they will not be forgotten.
He said they will be entitled to insurance package with sizeable insurance compensation that the State Government has already put in place, adding that in whatever way possible the government will provide support to them.
“Our success in reducing crime has brought about many more challenges with many more people relocating to Lagos for security reasons, saying: “yesterday’s success has become history, today’s challenges live with us, it is our responsibility to provide security for tomorrow.
“In security business, there are no margins for errors. We must be right always. We must ensure that it does not happen again. We have to rethink our methods, rethink our strategies and renew our commitment because we are at a period when people who do not work want to live life to the fullest”, Mr Fashola said.
The Inspector General of Police told the State Police Command that it is no more a tea party adding that the command must wake up from its slumber as the robbery incident of Sunday must not repeat itself.
“The story of what happened in Lagos yesterday should not repeat itself. We cannot fold our arms and allow common criminals to terrorise us. They should not terrorise the people anymore.
“We cannot fold our arms when the Governor has provided all that we want in terms of mobility, allowances, support and assistance. I have directed the Assistant Inspector General, Zone 11 and the State Commissioner of Police to meet and re-strategise on the issue. It will not be accepted anymore”, Mr Abubakar said.
Lagos traffic laws
The IG, who also spoke on the observance of traffic law by motorcycle riders in the State, said he had a personal experience on the Lekki -Epe Expressway at midnight on Sunday where he observed motorcycles not obeying traffic lights.
He said he expects motorcyclists irrespective of whether they are commercial or privately owned to obey the law and respect traffic rules, adding that the State Police Commissioner must convene a meeting with the union of motor cycle (Okada) riders in the next one month on why they must obey traffic laws in the State.
He said after the meeting with the union, a week’s grace should be given to the okada riders, after which anyone of them caught, should be arrested and prosecuted in the court of law.
