Insecurity: Lagos Places Security Agencies On Red Alert

THE Lagos State Government, yesterday directed security agencies in the state to arrest the upsurge in cases of kidnapping and armed robberies in parts of the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, in a statement, while assuring residents of adequate security, said government was alive to its responsibilities as the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not shy away from its function of protecting the lives and properties of residents in every part of the state.

According to Bello, Lagos was collaborating with security agencies to put in place upgraded security measures that would guarantee safety of lives and properties, saying: “We would like to inform Lagosians that we are saddened by the recent cases of kidnappings that appear not to be unrelenting. But we wish to assure that the government will not fold its arms and allow a few evil doers to prosper at the expense of innocent citizens. We are working together with both Federal Government and Ogun State Government in particular in the volatile areas that have been identified. We will spare no effort at bringing every criminal gang to book. The response of the State Government will be swift, total and reassuring to the public in sending a clear signal to all and sundry that Lagos State will not tolerate any form of criminality.”

While sympathizing with the families of victims in Iba and Ikorodu, the Secretary to the State Government urged residents to go about their normal businesses without any fear or panic as government had placed security personnel on red alert throughout the state to checkmate this menace.

He urged residents to be vigilant and security conscious as intelligence reports had shown that most of the heinous crimes were perpetrated by elements who had infiltrated the state and carrying out crimes in conjunction with friends, family members or close associates of the victims.

Bello stressed the commitment and capacity of the Ambode-led administration to deal with any act of criminality in any part of the state, urging residents to take advantage of the state’s toll free lines: 112 and 767 to report any case of crime or unusual/suspicious movement or strange faces in their neighbourhood to security agencies.

In reference to the recent security equipment and vehicles donated by the administration to security agencies, Bello said the state government in alliance with the Police and other security agencies in the state would continue to do everything possible to halt the trend of kidnapping in the state and bring perpetrators to justice.

Source:- Vanguardngr