Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, has read the riot act to foreigners who hide under the ECOWAS treaty to come into the state to commit crimes to desist or risk the wrath of the Force.

The CP revealed that 50 foreigners and four Nigerians were recently arrested in Lagos, for various criminal offences.

According to CP Adegoke, it was no longer business as usual as he warned Policemen under his watch to either sit up and deliver quality policing or be ready to be kicked out of the force.

Adegoke, who talked tough during a familiarization tour to the Area F Police Command, at the weekend, also warned members of the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) not to hide under the committee to commit crimes as the PCRC is not above the law, adding that any member who commits a crime would be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the state.

He also warned commercial motorcycle operators( Okada riders), to obey strictly the law on restriction by the state Government and don’t dare such a route like Ikeja, as they would be arrested, tried and jailed, while their motorcycles would be sized and handed over to the state government.

The CP further warned that any policeman, Navy, Airforce or military personnel who is riding on a motorcycle must be in uniform or the motorcycle would be seized and handed over to the state government without delay.

“Investigation has shown that those who are riding commercial motorcycles, in restricted areas, especially Ikeja, are military; Naval, Air Force, and police personnel. This must stop henceforth. Any of the personnel who must ride on Okada must be in uniform.

“The Area Commander should meet with the management teams of our sister security agencies and brief them properly to talk to their men as any personnel caught riding Okada in mufti must suffer the fate of recalcitrant Okada riders,” he said.

CP Adegoke who threw more light on the influx of foreigners in the state said, “We cannot prevent anyone coming to Lagos from ECOWAS countries from coming in to do business because of the ECOWAS treaty but we have discovered that most of them come into Nigeria, especially Lagos to commit crimes.

“This is what we can’t take. The police under my command will not tolerate such criminally minded people. We will go after them, arrest and hand them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service to do the needful.

“For your information, 50 of such foreigners, especially from Cameron, were arrested recently for various criminal offences and handed over to the NIS. Another criminal group made up of Nigerians numbering 4,000 were also picked, charged to Court and sent to Correctional centres in the state.

“The state government is doing its best by supporting the police through the State Security Trust Fund, so we must not disappoint the government and the people we are paid to protect their lives and properties. That is why I am advising everyone, both the police, other sister organisations, commercial motorcycle operators, PCRC members and members of the public to sit up and obey the laws of the land or risk arrest and possible prosecution as no one is above the law,” he reiterated.

The CP who commended members of the PCRC for their roles in making policing easier in the state, charged them to do more, adding that, “the members of the public should join hands with the police to fight crimes. The police need the information to thrive.

“I know that most of you are afraid that when you give information to the police, you will be betrayed but that is not true, because you can pass information without revealing your identity. You can walk to the DPO, the Area Commander and give him the necessary information you have for him. I wonder how a DPO or Area Commander will demean himself to betray an informant. It is not possible.

“The DPO and Area Commander will be happy with you that you are assisting him or her in the war against crime. If you give information to the police, you are making our job easier. I assure you that any information you bring to us will get utmost secrecy and our response time is within a period of one week. When you see something, you say something. If you see criminal activities going on in your area and you keep quiet, you, your spouse, children or any of your relatives may be the next victim.

“I want my officer to be of good conduct. Anywhere you serve, you must make a mark and a good name. Anywhere I have served, people there still call me and speak good of me. The Area Commander and the DPO should have regular meetings, interactions with all Landlord associations, Community Developments, religious leaders and other associations in your jurisdictions to know their problems and know what to do to bring down crime to the barest minimum.

“We have been training our rank and files to be of good behaviour because we have discovered that some of them don’t know how to relate to the public. we won’t tolerate indecent behaviour from our men. I am advising my men to be of good conduct and treat members of the public with respect and allow them to enjoy their fundamental human rights,” he insisted.

In his welcome address, Area Commander, ACP Paul A Okafor, said that though he was new in the place, he was not oblivious to the fact that his jurisdiction Ikeja harbors key important places that must be well policed.

“My Command is one of the most strategic and sensitive commands. Here the following offices fall within my command: Lagos State Police Command, Lagos State Give House, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lagos State Judiciary, International and local airports, Military Cantonment, General Hospital,

“Lagos Bus terminal, and other important places, so we won’t allow crime to happen and embarrass us. We will make sure that criminal activities are nip in the bud. We are going to be proactive and make sure that we are not reactive. We will continue to make our impact as residents of Ikeja will continue to sleep with their eyes closed,” he explained. (Daily Sun)

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