° As AIG Alabi assures non indegenes of Safty
By Christopher Oji
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command Mr. Idowu Owohunwa has read the riot act to criminals and policemen serving in the command.
The CP also warned political thugs to desist from any criminal act as he promised to deal ruthless with them.
Owohunwa who took over from Assistant Inspector General of Police, Abiodun Alabi,said he has not come to Lagos to play but to work.
“I have collected the command’s security template from the former CP now the AIG in charge of Zone 2 command, that I will study and know how to tackle security challenges.
“During Alabi’s tenure, he provided the requisite leadership which stabilized the internal security space in Lagos . Sir, for your service and achievements, you shall remain eternally celebrated in the history of the Command and indeed, the Force
“I promise that under my watch, I will be hard on deviants within the fold of the state police Command, who continually bring us into disrepute and pitch us against the citizens we are paid to serve and protect.
“Such elements are encouraged to embrace the tenets of self-discipline in the common good or be ready to for the consequences. An undisciplined officer is a threat not only to the policing family,but to the community and the State he serves.
“My leadership will be founded firmly and strictly on discipline and professionalism, and you should please all return to your jurisdictions and deepen the lecture on this to your men. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. So let me sound this warning as loudly and clearly as possible. If you perform your duties within acceptable ethical and professional standards, you shall have my back in the line of your duties. But if you exceed the permissible ethical and professional bounds, you shall be dealt with firmly. Let no officer be in doubt on this in relation to my leadership.
“Lagos state police command under my watch will be manifestly hard on criminals, and their networks but civil with law abiding citizens, and respectful of their rights. In this regard, in due course sets of actions that will address issues impacting on seamless police-public trust and partnership will be initiated and details of this and the Broad Policing Action Plans for the State will be shared with you. When this is done, my expectation will be for all of you to key into it and adapt your policing approach accordingly.
” Lagos is the pride of the country. The plans may be lofty. The professional experience to drive it may be rich. The passion to deliver may be strong. But without the buy-in of strategic stakeholders and all spectrum of Lagosians, the journey to policing the centre of excellence may be rough and bumpy.
“I want to solicit the support, guidance, and trust of all Lagosians. I will remain open to constructive criticisms, inputs, pieces of advice and above all, critical criminal information that will aid our proactive actions in crime management. It is my believe that there must come a time in the lives of a people that they should resolve to trust, work together, and march hand in hand to confront our common enemy, the criminal elements that are threatening our common values for peace, safety, and security.
“The era of what we often refer to in police parlance as the ‘siege mentality’, the ‘we’ and ‘them’ syndrome in which the citizens and the police see themselves as enemies should now be discarded. Ushered in should be the era of ‘we the People’ and ‘our Police’ against ‘them’ the criminals.
“We must be reminded that the immediate task we must all deal with has to do with the upcoming General Elections as they affect Lagos State. The outgoing Commissioner of Police has briefed me in detail on the strategies and Action Plans for the exercise. As we commence the process of giving effect to these plans, I wish to assure Lagosians of our firm resolve and full preparedness of the Command to ensure that the process is peaceful, secure, and credible”.
Meanwhile Alabi who handed over to Owohunwa
has assured indegene and none indegene of their safety, noting that protection is for everyone, but not for a section.
“I am aware that some people are threatening some people,but I am going to work the new CP to protect life and property during before and after election. None indegenes should no panic, but go about their normal duties.
“It gives me great joy to note that during my tour of duty at the Lagos State Police Command, there was no major security challenge that led to a serious crisis. This was due largely to the commitment and dedication to duty of officers and men of the command while providing the strategic leadership. Also, the immeasurable support of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund is appreciated in our quest of fighting crime frontally.
“We were able to bring crime to the barest minimum, and dealt a big blow to traffic robbery especially with the state-sanctioned ban on use of motorcycles in certain LGAs of the state and strategic motorized patrols in identified areas during peak traffic hours.”