Police assure Lagos residents of safety, announce burial arrangements for CSP Abonde

Lagos State Police Command yesterday allayed residents’ fears that the state is becoming a hotbed of kidnapping.

The assurance came after reports of kidnapping incidents in the state.

Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said trending posts about cases of kidnapping are exaggerated and should be ignored.

Speaking through Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Command’s spokesperson, Odumosu said: “We assure residents that Lagos State is safe, and they should not panic on account of the viral post or the recent security infringement in Ajah where AVM Sikiru Smith (rtd) was abducted on September 27. 

“This assurance becomes imperative in view of the unnecessary alarm and concerns being raised on the social media about isolated security infractions in some parts of the state.

“The victim, who was kidnapped in Festac on Sunday, September 26, has been rescued and reunited with his family.

“Operatives of the Command are being tactical so as not to jeopardise the life of the AVM and the pastor. Concerted efforts are ongoing to rescue them and arrest their abductors in due course.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner of Police wishes to state that the isolated incidents notwithstanding, Lagos State is, and will remain one of the safest states in Nigeria.”

Ajisebutu said the Command has re-strategised to provide watertight security for all law-abiding residents of the state.

“The Commissioner of Police has given a standing order to all field Commanders, tactical unit Commanders, other uniformed and plain-clothed police officers to intensify visibility policing, vehicular patrol as well as an intelligence-driven raid of all flashpoints/blackspots and identified criminal hideouts to smoke out men of the underworld hibernating in them.

“The CP also wishes to state that the Command is conscious of its statutory duties of protecting life and property among other duties, and would not for any reason or at any time abdicate these important duties.

“We once again solicit the support of the public, sister agencies and other strategic partners by giving prompt, actionable intelligence that would further decimate criminal elements and their nefarious activities in the state,” he added.

MEANWHILE, the Police Command has announced burial arrangements of the late CSP Kazeem Abonde, who was murdered last Thursday by hoodlums during a raid in Ajao Estate, Lagos.

The police officer was allegedly hacked to death after he led a team to enforce restrictions on commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders in the area.

A statement from the Force Public Relations Department, Office of the Inspector-General of Police, Abuja, signed by CSP, Adejobi Olumuyiwa, stated that Abonde’s body will leave Ikeja in a motorcade for interment today (Friday) at his residence, Abonde Area Along Akanran Road, Ibadan in Ona Ara Local Government of Oyo State. He is survived by his wife, children and aged mother.