Against the background of increasing kidnapping and killings in Lagos especially by the Badoo cult group, the state governor, has requested the police high command to create two additional area commands in Lagos.
The request comes as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim has hinted of plans by the police to acquire 10 more gun boats to effectively patrol and monitor the waterways in Lagos and other coastal areas.
Ambode, who received the IGP at the State House, Ikeja, on Thursday, specifically requested the two area commands be created in Ikorodu and Badagry. Most of the killings by the Badoo cultists have been perpetrated in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, which has assumed notoriety for heinous crimes. Kidnappers have also threatened at different times to extend their nefarious activities to Badagry.
Ambode said the state government would be ready to fund the establishment of the commands if the request is granted.
“Funding is key to security, but security also is fundamental to the growth of Lagos and the prosperity of Lagos, so we are ready and we are committed to support all our security agencies, the navy, the police to make sure that we have a safe city where we can be investor friendly and also grow the economy of Nigeria.
“I am ready to fund additional area commands in Lagos, so I am requesting that we should do two additional commands in Lagos, one in Ikorodu and another one in Badagry. There is a need for us to pay more attention to the Ikorodu axis because of the kind of reports that we are getting from there,” said Ambode.
Alluding to the multi-billion dollar investments coming up in the Lekki corridor and the need to secure the area, the governor also requested that the Mobile Police Command in Ibeju Lekki be relocated to Epe.
“We already have some kind of command in Ibeju Lekki which is the Mobile Police, but I also request that because of the kind of economic activities that is coming up in the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the road expansion that we are doing in the Epe axis, we would like to request that the command be relocated to Epe itself,” he said
The governor, who commended the police high command for the support in the recent rescue of the kidnapped six students of Government Model College, Igbonla, Epe, after 65 days in captivity, pledged the commitment of Lagos State government to provide additional gun boats and equipment to safeguard the waterways.
On his part, the IGP who lauded the state government for continued support to the police, said the high command was working out modalities to enhance their activities in the Lagos especially in the coastal areas.
He disclosed that about 10 additional gun boats would be procured, while the Nigeria Police Marine would be enhanced to man the boats along the waterways.
“I believe with these enhancements and with the capacity to provide these gun boats, the Nigeria Police Force will effectively check these criminal activities and ensure security in Lagos and other areas,” Ibrahim said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
