The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Idris Ibrahim, on Thursday visited Isawo creeks in the Ikorodu neighbourhood of Lagos State, where militants recently unleashed terror on the residents.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ibrahim was conducted round the areas by Lt.-Col. Julius Ogbobe, the commander of the military operation in the area.

After assessing the security situation in the area, Ibrahim said that all buildings close to the creeks should be pulled down, stressing that the affected buildings had compromised the security of the area.

He commended the joint operation and vowed that the police would do everything possible to make the area free from criminals, particularly vandals and militants.

“I am here to assess the security situation and to encourage men deployed to this area.

“The security of this area is not meant for the uniformed men alone; the residents should always give useful information to security men,” he said.

Ibrahim commended the people of the area for their cooperation and urged them to continue to support efforts to restore peace to their neighbourhood.

Earlier, Ogbobe informed the IG that the military had succeeded in destroying some camps used by the militants, stressing that more of such camps would be targeted.

He, however, noted that some of the suspects had escaped to other areas, adding, however, that with the clearing of an access route into the creeks, the remnants of the militants would be completely dislodged from the area.

“The creeks are not accessible, making it a difficult area to operate. That is why we have not been able to move in; in the next 24 hours, our operation will move farther into the creeks.

“The vandals have different commanders; some have escaped while others are still there.

“We have arrested 11 suspects so far. We have also seized 95 arms, eight Dane guns, 33 live cartridges, two mobile police uniforms, one army uniform, 18 cutlasses, two laptops, one fully-loaded AK-47 rifle and one general multi-purpose gun,” he said.

A community leader in the area, Rev. Joshua Aina, commended the joint security operation and solicited the establishment of a permanent police station in the area. (NAN)

•Photo shows Acting IGP Idris Ibrahim.

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