Alleged Security Threat: Police Place Area Commanders, DPOs On Red Alert In Lagos

LAGOS - The Police Command in Lagos State has placed its operatives on red alert over alleged plans to attack the state by terrorists.

 

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin.

According to him, the command was responding to intelligence reports suggesting that Lagos State could be on the radar of some persons planning attacks across the country.

“To this end, the commissioner of police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Command on high alert. Also placed on alert are all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and Tactical Commanders, in a bid to ensure that any planned attack is promptly and decisively nipped in the bud,” he said.

Hundeyin further stated that the command was working closely with other security agencies to ensure that no person or group of persons succeeds in destabilizing the peace and serenity enjoyed by the people of Lagos State.

He told people in the state not to fear, assuring them that all human, material, and operational resources had been fully and optimally deployed across the state.

Hundeyin said that in all the border towns, persons coming in and going out were under surveillance to ensure that there was absolutely no breach of the peace in the state.

He noted that the command had a carefully laid down security plans and strategies, and that all residents of Lagos State should go about their lawful duties without panic or fear, but to remain very vigilant and report suspicious movements and persons to security agencies.

The police in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos may have been responding to the warning by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Mr Gani Adams, who said he had learnt of plans by terrorists to attack Lagos State.

According to him, he also received intelligence report that well-armed terrorists had moved into forests in Osun, Oyo and Ogun states.

In a statement issued yesterday by Kehinde Aderemi, his special assistant on media, Adams said the terrorists were seen with a large cache of ammunition and urged the governors of the region to fortify the south-west security network, code-named Amotekun, so it can help the conventional security forces in containing the terrorists.

He said, “Now that Abuja has seemingly lost the battle to terrorists, the south-west region is the next target of these destroyers of hope.

“We are aware of their plans to strike in Lagos, Ibadan, Oyo state, and Abeokuta in Ogun State, however, I implore all the governors in the south-west to recruit local security service structure in their various local governments.

“Information reaching me today is that the terrorists are in-between Osu Forest and Ile Ife, Osun State, fully armed with various ammunition and they are presently in the forest between Abeokuta and Ibadan planning to attack us in the south-west.

“This is information that we need to act on in order to avoid possible calamity. Yoruba aren’t cowards. So, let everybody in the south-west (should) be vigilant and watchful in checking this insecurity scourge that is already suffocating Nigeria.”

Vowing that the region will not yield to those who want to destroy their land, Adams urged the six governors in the south-west states to hold an emergency security meeting with stakeholders across the region so as to address the threat to the region.

The Aare Ona Kakanfo said he is ready to offer his assistance, if needed by any of the south-west governors.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to redeem his image and use his power to establish state police before leaving office.

“The insecurity has reached its peak with the threat by these terrorists to kidnap the president, governors and lawmakers. Nigeria is going down because it looks as if there is no government in the country. It looks as if this administration has decided to force Nigerians to seek self-help.

“The president has about 10 months left in office. This is the time to redeem his image. President Buhari can use his executive powers to allow the immediate establishment of state police with a mandate to flush out all the terrorists stationed in strategic places in the country,” he said