Massive boost for Lagos crime fighters

Massive boost for Lagos crime fighters

By Our Reporter  on December 3, 2015   National
Residents, others excited as Ambode hands over helicopters, vehicles, security gadgets to police
By Tope Adeboboye
PALPABLE excitement pervaded the air. Sheer enthusiasm was conspicuous on the faces of the hundreds of people seated or standing in groups at the Lagos House, Ikeja. The venue on Friday played host to an array of eminent Nigerians, top security officials, scores of police personnel, entertainers, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and members and ordinary Lagos residents. They were at the Lagos House to witness the official handover of security equipment to the Lagos Command of the Nigeria Police and the unveiling of the rebranded Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
On display at the venue were the many vehicles and other security equipment procured for the Nigeria Police by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. It was an intimidating display.
The security gadgets include 100 saloon cars, 55 Ford Ranger pick-up vans, ten Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 power bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gunboats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), revolving lights, siren and public address system, vehicular radio communicators, bulletproof vests, helmets, handcuffs, uniforms, kits as well as improved insurance and death benefit schemes for police officers.
The three helicopters, it was gathered, would be deployed to monitor traffic and trail criminals from the air in the event of armed robbery attacks. They would also be deployed for rescue operation in the event of emergencies, it was gathered.
During the event, there was a display of how drones would be deployed to carry out aerial surveillance during traffic, robberies and emergencies across the state.
Across Lagos in recent times, armed robberies and other criminal activities have been on the rise. Kidnappings and traffic robberies have become an infamous tradition. Daily Sun has written on the rising spate of criminal activities in the state on many occasions. Little wonder that many were excited that with the procurement of the vehicles and other equipment, Lagos might soon start to sleep with both eyes closed.
The equipment, it was gathered, cost the state government about N4.765 billion.
President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the event by the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau. Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, former Lagos State governors, Lateef Jakande and his wife, and Mobolaji Johnson were among the eminent personalities at the event.
In his speech, Governor Ambode enjoined the police to ensure that the security gadgets were deployed effectively to tackle criminal activities in the state. Lagos residents, he insisted, would no longer accept excuses, adding that the new equipment had helped position the Lagos Police Command to fight crime like other modern city-states across the world.
“Our police command will have its operations significantly driven by the right technology and equipment that will match the emerging sophistication of crime in our contemporary times. Members of the police command have been undergoing training to better equip them for the job. We have also rebranded the Rapid Response Squad of the state police command to give it a new identity,” he asserted. The governor said his administration was determined to make Lagos a safe haven for law abiding citizens.
He implored President Buhari to increase the federal government’s support for Lagos, even as he noted that the security of the state had a direct impact on Nigeria’s economic fortunes. He charged the public to help the security agencies by volunteering useful information on suspected criminals and criminal activities. The state emergency hotline, he said, remained 112.
The governor also lauded the state’s former governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the RRS in 1999. He also praised his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, for establishing the Security Trust Fund in 2007. That, he said, created the public-private partnership that had helped in funding the huge investment required to support security operations in the state. He praised the members of the former board of the Trust Fund for their achievements even as he expressed optimism that the new board would perform even better.
In his remarks, President Buhari commended Governor Ambode for making security his priority and for procuring security equipment that would make the state safer and conducive for residents.
In his words, tackling security challenges demanded a collaboration among the critical stakeholders, especially elected government representatives. He called on other states to emulate the great strides of Governor Ambode by supporting security agencies in their various states.
The president also charged the men of the Lagos State Police Command to ensure that the security gadgets were preserved through diligent maintenance culture so as to justify the huge resources expended on their purchase.
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said he was delighted that Governor Ambode was determined to make the security of Lagos and its people the priority of his government. In his words, “the gesture is a clear demonstration of political will and clear vision to rebrand, re-equip and re-energize the security architecture in a manner that will motivate security personnel to operate optimally and remain steps ahead of criminal elements in the battle to re-assure citizens of security and safety.”
While acknowledging that Ambode had been consistently motivating security agencies in the state, the nation’s top cop described Ambode as a strong executive pillar on which the security architecture of Lagos could confidently rest.
“This is also a clear testimony of the resolve of the state government to partner with the police towards strengthening the security architecture of the state. You have given effect to the sacred provision of the constitution which provides that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. You have also advanced the assertion that any nation desirous of the security of its citizens must of necessity enhance the capacity of its security agencies toward achieving their mandate, as being clearly demonstrated today.”
“I can assure you that the huge investment will not be in vain. For by this gesture, you have motivated us and assured us that as we work hand-in-hand as security agents to advance your vision for a safe and secured Lagos State, you, as the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State, will be by us, meet our needs and give us the executive leverage needed to succeed.
“You have challenged us by this gesture and I can confidently assure your Excellency that we shall not fail you as we appreciate that to whom much is given, much is expected,” Arase said.
Commander of the RRS, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, assured that his men would work assiduously to ensure the safety of Lagos at all times.
His words: “Just as the Inspector General of Police said, to whom much is given, much is expected. This huge investment by the Lagos State Government to the Nigerian Police is a big challenge to us and we pray and assure Lagosians that we will put into good use the items donated to us to make the lives of our people safer and well secured.”
While assuring that the security patrol vehicles would be adequately monitored, Disu said a system had been put in place by the RRS to monitor all the vehicles. He assured that when some break down, a swift response would be provided.
“We have said it before that we have monitors to monitor each specific vehicle. For example, we have people to monitor part of Lagos Island. We have people to monitor Lagos. Monitoring is not going to be any problem at all.
“I want to emphasize that we have made up our minds to put in everything we have to protect Lagosians because this is a huge investment and we cannot afford to let the people and government down. So, we are determined to do our very best to secure Lagos,” the RRS boss assured.
The event witnessed cultural displays by officials of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, as well as private cultural troops. There was also the display of the workings of the security gadgets by men of the RRS, especially the workings of the Armoured Personnel Carriers and how the power bikes could be deployed to maintain law and order.
Also at the event were former deputy governors of Lagos State – Abiodun Ogunleye and Femi Pedro; former Senators Olorunnimbe Mamora, Anthony Adefuye, Ganiyu Solomon and Biyi Durojaiye; serving Senators Oluremi Tinubu and Solomon Adeola Olamilekan; retired Justice of Supreme Court, George Oguntade, and Chairman of Elizade Motors, Chief Michael Adojo, among many others.
Chinyere Nwosu, who lives in Festac but works in Ikeja, expressed optimism that the security gadgets would bring an end to the activities of criminals that seemed to have seized Lagos by the jugular in recent times.
“With this bold statement, the governor has thrown the ball into the court of the security agencies. They now have to justify the huge responsibility reposed in them and make Lagos a peaceful and safer place for us all,” she asserted