Following the massive damage that trailed the protest by the #EndSARS protesters, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state yesterday directed the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to deploy anti-riot policemen to crisis ridden areas of the state to ensure protection of lives and property.
Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the directive as he led a team on an on-the-spot assessment of the level of destruction to installations and government property across the state.
The governor, who visited the council Secretariat of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area. inspected the carcasses of burnt vehicles, numbering 86 and the looted offices and buildings in the secretariat. He expressed dismay at the actions of the vandals and urged residents and irate youths to sheathe the sword and allow peace to reign. He also visited the Ajeromi Divisional Police Headquarters and sympathised with the policemen and their families at the barracks over the attack.
The governor’s entourage subsequently departed for Layeni Police Station in Ifelodun LCDA to inspect the police station that was set ablaze by miscreants. The team also visited the burnt Palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu I, where he met with the traditional chiefs and the aborigines (Indigenes) of Isale Eko and commiserated with them over the loss.
The traditional chiefs, meanwhile, issued a 24 hour ultimatum for the staff of office of the Oba to be returned. It was gathered that arrests have already been made while invading hoodlums still at large have been identified through the viral video on social media.
In a related development, Lagos State Government on Thursday, released the list of 23 ongoing criminal cases in courts against various erring police officers over brutality as well as violation of fundamental human rights of residents.
In a statement signed by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, the list showed the accused policemen facing prosecution for charges ranging from murder to other minor offences.
Onigbanjo said the state had always been committed to the prosecution of erring security officers.
He therefore, urged the public to keep track of the cases as state lawyers diligently prosecute them in the interest of the public. 10 policemen are facing murder and attempted murder in various courts, seven are facing charges of various degrees of manslaughter, three cases of armed robbery/conspiracy and one for grievous bodily harm.
VANGUARD