The Lagos State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-olu to be decisive in tackling the security threat in the state which had worsened in the last few days.
Armed robbery, gangsterism and other forms of criminal activities have been on the rapid increase in the state in recent days as a result of the lockdown imposed on Lagos, Ogun and FCT by President Muhammadu Buhari to check the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The President, Monday night, further extended the lockdown for another 14 days, saying that the extension was necessary in a bid to combat the pandemic. The extension came amid agitations among Nigerians that the government should provide palliatives to the citizenry to cushion the effect of the lock down.
In a statement to journalists on Tuesday, signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Taoffick Gani, the opposition party said that the Sanwo-olu administration must urgently discuss with the Federal Government to adequately source for a palliatives and relief supports for the people of the state due to the extension of the lockdown.
The party bemoaned the security situation in the state, attributing it to the lockdown, while charging Governor Sanwo-olu to urgently summon a meeting of security agencies and other stakeholders in the state to deal with the situation.
The PDP further urged the governor to impose a curfew in the state from 8pm to 8am in a bid to address the security treat.
According to the statement, “We urge Governor Sanwo-olu to at this time deliberately domesticate the modus operandi, if need be, as we suggest, he should request or even demand for adequate relief supports from the Federal Government for Lagos State.
“For sake of clarity, we suggest that Governor Sanwo-olu should immediately summon security meeting of all security agencies and possibly include CDAs; he should even consider the imposition of curfew in the state from 8pm till 8am.
“This is most appropriate now to frontally and strategically stop this robbery and violent attacks arising from effects of the lockdown.
The violent crimes must be blamed on Sanwo-olu and the Lagos police command if it lingers beyond 48hours.”
Iniobong Iwok
