By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor

The new Assistant In spector-General of Police, Zone 2, Abdulmajid, Ali, has charged policemen under his jurisdiction to brace up to the challenges of fighting crime or find their way out of the zone.  He stated categorically that there will no longer be room for indolence and indiscipline warning that any errant officer or  the rank and file that fails to obey the rules as specified by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, should be ready to face the consequences.

Speaking exclusively to Sunday Vanguard over the week while appraising crime situation in the state, the amiable police boss said: “I want to let you know that I am not new to the terrain of Ogun and Lagos.  After my training here in Lagos, I also spent some time here before I was moved out.   To God be the glory,  I was sent to Ogun state to head Ogun state command first,  as Deputy Commissioner of Police and Commissioner of Police before moving to Lagos here as Assistant -Inspector General of Police.  So, I am very familiar with the area and I am also so with the types of crime that occurs there.   I know the trouble places and the quiet areas.”

Reflecting on the bombardment of the creeks around Ikorodu, Arrepo and Ibafo that yielded positive dividends, the AIG said: “Well, it was long overdue with regards to things that have happened because I was a living witness to accident that have happened in Arepo areas within that axis.  I am a living witness to the killing of NNPC officers.  I am a living witness to the killing of policemen, military men and S SS within that axis.  The bombardment took place after series of meeting with security chiefs and the tacit mandate of the Commander- in- Chief to our boss in Abuja together with the two governors on the need to sanitize that place.   As law enforcement officers, we had no option than to back them up and make sure that the actual thing was properly done.”

Permanent solution

“We are putting a lot of intelligent network in place to tract those people that escaped from the creeks particularly, the key leaders. We have got contacts and we are working on it.  We intend to create security platform particularly to create and establish police posts and police stations and access their profiles.  We have patrol incentives that are on ground.   We will continue for some times so as to gain back the confidence and normalcy in the area.   So, the security apparatus will fully be on ground for the time being.   We are not pulling out until normalcy actually return.  The governor of Ogun state said they will clear the surroundings to make it more accessible. I think that is what the two governments are trying to do to ensure that those axis are cleared, make it more accessible for water ways transportation and what have you.

Expectations

People in both states should expect a change in policing because, luckily, I have two able Commissioners of Police.  They know what they are doing.  They should expect change in the attitude of our men.  I am quite aware of the outcry there, the behaviour of some of our men outside.  We have set up a monitoring team to check most of the unethical behaviours in some of our men.   They should expect honest and pro-active policing. I want to assure them that the fight of crime and criminality will continue.   I will never leave any stone unturned.   I will put in the world of experience I have gathered in Ogun state and extend it to Lagos state. I will also ensure that effective policing, effective patrol, and proper handling of cases are carried out.   Justice must be done in all cases.  People must sleep with both eyes closed.”