Lagos – AIG Bala Hassan, who is in charge of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, says that certainty of arrest and prosecution of criminals in the country would discourage the perpetrators.
Hassan made the assertion on Monday in Lagos while speaking on the arrest of some armed robbers and measures put in place to secure the waterways and make the Yuletide crime-free.
“When there is certainty of arrest, prosecution and punishment, people will be deterred from committing crime. That is our philosophy.
“The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase, has also strengthened the legal department so that when we are constructing such cases, we will use our own lawyers.
“We have a superintendent of police who is in charge of the legal department.
“He is experienced to ensure that we appear in court at any given time the case is adjourned to and when we do that, criminals will not be let off the hook,’’ he said.
“We know the importance of such cases because if we do not prosecute diligently, they may be let off the hook. We must prove our cases beyond reasonable doubt.
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“We will make sure that Investigation Police Officers (IPOs) appear in court and our prosecutor who is a seasoned police lawyer will make sure that these people are prosecuted.’’
The AIG added that several measures had been put in place to secure the highways and give confidence to Nigerians who wish to travel during the Christmas season.
“We have put in several measures, like if you move from the toll gate down to Ogun, we have the Safer Highway Patrol team and this does not even end there.
“The I-G has put them all over the federation to give confidence to members of the public.
“As Christmas is coming, many people will like to travel to different parts of the country; this is to give them assurance that robbery will be curbed.
“We have also talked to the I-G to give us helicopters which we shall use to monitor any criminal activity because if you commit a crime, the helicopter will help us locate you.
“And with the men on the ground, we will get the criminal arrested,’’ he said.
On police partnership with the Nigerian Navy to curb crime on the waterways, he said that efforts were being made to procure more gunboats.
“Most of the criminals now go by the waterways and we are making efforts to get more gunboats for the Christmas.
“And with the help of helicopters we are getting from the I-G and the Commissioner of Police, we will make sure that the people of Ogun and Lagos States enjoy a very peaceful Christmas.
“We are partnering with the Navy, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has held series of meeting with them and we are working to make sure that the waterways are free,’’ he said.
On the arrest of Agbara banks robbery suspects, Hassan said the robbers had been arrested from Delta and that more arrest would be made and they would appear in court. (NAN)