Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade, new Lagos commissioner of police, on Thursday said he will rejig the police force in Lagos State to make it more responsive to combat crime and criminality.
CP Adegoke made this known immediately he officially assumed office at State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to him, “in view to reducing public apprehension and enhance the overall quality of life for our citizens, I will rejig the police force in Lagos State to make it more responsive in the fight against traffic robbery, kidnapping, cultism, violation of laws on restriction of commercial motorcycles from prohibited areas in the state, car theft and other neighbourhood-related crimes. A special focus will be on these crimes as they negatively impact our citizens and society.Our comprehensive strategy will involve identifying and transforming identified hotspots into soft spot or safer areas, effectively turning potential trouble zones into secure and peaceful community hubs.”
Explaining further, CP Adegoke said: “A specialized unit made up of well trained and properly equipped personnel will be established to work closely with other law enforcement agencies that will confront these crimes. We shall collaborate with the judiciary to ensure swift prosecution and conviction of criminals to serve as deterrence.”
“Intelligence gathering capabilities will be strengthened. Our men will take battle frontally to the criminal elements, hotspots and vulnerable areas and aggressively pursue violators of law and ensure the public space is dominated by our men. Identified areas prone to this category of criminal activities shall adequately be taken care of and given special attention.
“It is pertinent to note that the clampdown on commercial motorcycle operators in prohibited areas, which has led to drastic reduction of crime and accident cases, will be sustained and intensified. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers will give daily update on the level of compliance in their area of responsibility. Other measures will be emplaced to ensure smooth, total and strict compliance.”
“We shall leverage on crime mapping to analyse and visualise crime pattern in Lagos. Relevant data collected daily, weekly, monthly and indeed at regular interval will give direction on pro-active policing strategies, resources allocation and informed decision making in Lagos Command with the Divisional Police Officers, Area Commanders, Squadron Commanders and policymakers. I have taken a deep look at the current crime analysis in Lagos and shall take immediately steps to clinically handle the problem areas”, he added.