Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has deployed an intervention squad to Lagos, Ogun states as they begin a new round of lockdown over coronavirus.
In the special squad are Police Mobile Force (PMF) Units, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS).
The squad will strengthen security and bolster public confidence in the affected areas.
The immediate trigger were reports about the activities of hoodlums and street urchins, who went to rob people in their homes.
Police spokesman Frank Mba said 191 suspects have been arrested in Lagos and Ogun States in connection with the incidents.
Fifteen locally-made guns, 52 live cartridges, 42 Cutlasses and axes and large quantity of weeds suspected to be Marijuana were recovered from the hoodlums by the Police Teams in the Agbado, Ifo, Otta and Agege axis.
Mbah said the Intervention team will be coordinated by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo.
Ogunyanwo is described as a seasoned crime fighter, who doubles as the DIG in charge of the Department of Research and Planning of the Force.
He is also the coordinating DIG for South-West Geopolitical Zone.
“He is to immediately oversee the deployments of these additional assets to enhance public safety, public confidence and general security in the two States`”, Mbah said.
In an unprecedented step, the police released the phone number of DIG. Ogunyanwo.
He can be reached via GSM No: 0803 389 3226.
The Control Room Numbers for Lagos Command are 08127155132, 08065154338 and 07055462708 while numbers for Ogun Command are 08081770416 and 08081770419.
IGP Adamu has also ordered Commissioners of Police across the country to immediately rejig the security architecture in their various Commands to effectively tackle all emerging crimes associated with the COVID-19 lockdown.
They are also to intensify patrols around residential areas, markets, shopping malls and all critical national infrastructures in their jurisdictions.
The Assistant Inspectors General of Police in the 12 Zonal Commands have also been directed by the IGP to bring their supervisory role to bear by ensuring that the Commands under their Zones are safe and secure for the citizenry to live and thrive.
The IGP assured the citizens that the police will not sit idly-by and allow activities of a few criminals to disrupt the peace and security of the country.
He commended Nigerians for their steadfastness, patience, perseverance and vigilance at this critical time.
