Ikorodu Robbery: Lagos CP Vows To Hunt Down Robbers Still On The Run

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, July 7th, 2015

By Ayo Balogun – The new Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni has vowed that the police are intensifying investigation to hunt down some armed robbers still on the run in the aftermath of last month’s Ikorodu banks robbery.

Four armed robbers have already been arrested by the police in connection with the robbery.

Speaking at the end of the State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode today, the commissioner said investigation was still ongoing, as the police were determined to apprehend other criminals still on the run.

“We are building on the information that we are gathering from interrogation, we are sending our intelligence personnel out and also comparing some information that we have gotten from the DSS.

“You remember that the first suspect that was arrested was apprehended by men of the OP-MESA and it is based on what we are able to get from that suspect that led to the arrest of more suspects. That is still ongoing and by the time we are done, we would be able to round up all of them and ensure that they are prosecuted,” he told newsmen.

Owoseni said the State Governor has assured the police that security was prime in his heart as security is vital and key to economic and social development “and he has assured us of his support.”

However, the CP said at the meeting that was held, the issue of cultism, pipeline vandalisation, issue of land grabbers that had turned Lagos to a war zone and the effects of the traffic gridlock that is slowing down things in the state, among others were discussed.

“All these things, all together we’ve looked into and of course the impact of street trading on traffic gridlock, all these things were looked into and it was resolved that it is time to enforce the law, it is time to allow the law to take its course by prosecuting offenders and of course, in the meeting, it was resolved that we should now look at how we can respond pragmatically to issues of crime and its effect to security,” he said.

Owoseni added that for criminals who did not want to desist from crime should know that government is going to enforce the law to the letter, saying that Ambode had assured “us of his political goodwill, that there would not be interference. The Police will emphasise more on prevention, proactive policing, intelligence-led investigations, intelligence-led policing.

“We would partner with the community. We want to take input from the non-state actors, the members of the community, different groups into our planning because investigation, detection and prosecution are things that are done when you want to prevent crime and we want to concentrate more on crime prevention.

“We want to make use of the little resources we have, both human and material resources to achieve all these and of course, support and effective synergy with all the security agencies to effect all these,” he stated.