Lagos – Mr Bala Hassan, the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command comprising Lagos and Ogun, on Monday assumed duty with a promise to reduce the crime in the zone.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AIG was received on arrival at the Zone 2 headquarters, Onikan, Lagos by the Commissioners of Police from Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni and his Ogun counterpart, Mr Muhammed Ali.
Hassan said he was going to check crimes in the two states through ensuring that policemen were regularly visible in every area of the command.
He said that the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Solomon Arase’s new Safer Highways Patrol vehicles would be used to check crime in all highways in the zone.
“In line with the trust of the Inspector-General of Police, we shall do all that is possible to ensure improvement in the reduction of crime level in the zone.
“The I-G, on assumption of office, made it a point that there would be zero tolerance for corruption and that will be carried out to the letter.
“I have come to ensure that the nooks and crannies of this zone are properly policed using the Safer Highways Patrol vehicles.
“And also, the I-G has motivated the men using these vehicles by providing them special allowances,’’ he said while addressing the officers and men of the command.
“Safer Highways patrol has improved tremendously the issues of corruption and accidental discharge by our men. These vehicles are to ensure visible police patrol throughout the country.
“My predecessor said that crime has reduced in the zone; we want to see that it is reduced well than what it is now.
“All Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) are advised to keep their telephone lines open in case anybody calls them for emergency.
“Any DPO or Area Commander who does not pick up calls from members of the public is not qualified to occupy such office.
“They must answer because you don’t know whose call needed urgent attention,’’ Hassan said.
The AIG, as part of directives by the I-G to improve on community policing, called on the public in Ogun and Lagos states to support him by providing useful information to the police.
Hassan said he would also reach out to sister security agencies, particularly, the Nigerian Immigration Service with a view to check illegal immigrants.
On kidnapping, the AIG said that Lagos and Ogun were without many issues, but however, said that an anti-kidnapping unit in the zone would be set up t check any attempt.
“We don’t want what happened in other zones to filter into our zone in terms of kidnapping,’’ he said.
Hassan said the issue of traffic robbery in Lagos would be address through improvement with the visible presence of policemen in all areas and decongestion of gridlock.
He said that he was going to meet with the commissioners and assured that in the next few weeks, there would be improvement in the reduction of crime in the two states.
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The AIG called on members of the public to know their DPOs and their telephone numbers, stressing that the zone would also activate its Intelligence Bureau.
He warned officers and men against the use of commercial buses for operation, noting that such an act was unethical.
“We are going to make policing very easy for the people and policemen in Lagos and Ogun states,’’ he added. (NAN)
