By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has dispelled talks from different quarters that the State in under a partial lockdown.
Alabi said that contrary to the news spreading like fire which quoted him as saying that the State is under partial lockdown because of Intelligence Report that unknown gunmen are planning to attack, he never said that. He explained that he was misquoted out of context.
Alabi at the Lagos State Stakeholders’ Forum on Police Accountability quarterly meeting and awards while giving a keynote address on ‘Police Community Partnership: Panacea for Effective Police Performance’ at the event supported by Open Society Initiative for West Africa had said that the partial lockdown was for a purpose, stressing that the Police and other security agencies in Lagos were ready for any intruders.
He said that there were stop-and-search points at different places that had become part of the security architecture in the state to combat any likely intruder.
The Lagos Police boss who said that though the number of police personnel in the State were inadequate, added that with community/police partnership, the current number could tackle all crimes and criminality.
Alabi said that the Force was committed to accountability, where those with excellent performances would always be rewarded amongst the personnel, and sanctions would be meted out to erring and unprofessional ones.
But reports circulating on Social Media suggested that the State is under Partial Lockdown sending fears across Lagosians.
Reacting to this, CP Alabi said that in line with the prevailing security threats in the country, Policemen have been deployed to man the entry and exit points of the State to prevent crime.
Alabi, while speaking to newsmen Thursday said that the policemen deployed at the exit and entry points of the State were detailed to engage in stop-and-search enforcement.
He said the move was part of the Command’s proactive measures to protect lives and property through the provision of adequate security in the State.
Alabi: “It is just stop-and-search which is just preventive measures. It is just proactive and preventive measures because of the prevailing security situation in the country.
“We were advised to put in place preventive and proactive measures, so, partial lockdown where, we are just doing our normal stop-and-search to prevent crime, and it is at the entry and exit points and not that Lagos State is on partial lockdown.”
“Where is a partial lockdown?
“It is just stop-and-search which is just preventive measures. It is just proactive and preventive measures because of the prevailing security situation in the country.
“We were advised to put in place preventive and proactive measures, so, partial lockdown where, we are just doing our normal stop-and-search to prevent crime, and it is at the entry and exit points and not that Lagos State is on partial lockdown.
“Where is a partial lockdown? is there anything like partial lockdown? it is just stop and search as preventive measures.
There is Not anything like partial lockdown? it is just stop and search as preventive measures.”
