By Monsuru Olowoopejo

The Lagos state government yesterday, set up a Joint Tactic Squad comprising  officers of all the security agencies to heighten security within and around Model Colleges and all schools in the outskirts, riverine and other vulnerable areas of the State.

Briefing Government House Correspondents after the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and attended by commanders of security formations operating in the State, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal said the State Government has also resolved to vigorously enforce the State Traffic Law prohibiting operation of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders in certain routes across the State.

Ambode

Edgal, who briefed newsmen alongside other security chiefs in the State, said the enforcement of the ban on Okada would take place immediately after another round of public enlightenment campaign on the dangers and security implications of plying Okada on restricted routes.

On security along the coastal areas, Edgal said in the past few weeks, a lot of efforts have been put in place toward fortifying security in the riverine areas, including Model Colleges and schools in such areas.

“Security around our coastal areas has also been fortified and the Council deliberated extensively about this particularly as it relates to security of all our Model Colleges and other schools that are situated in vulnerable areas.

“I have taken a tour of all the Model Colleges; all lapses observed have been noted by the Council and the Governor has given instruction that all those lapses be taken care of immediately. We now have Joint Tactic Guards of both the police and the military in all Model schools to heighten security,” he said.

The CP said the Council also deliberated and reviewed the security situation in the State especially now that the Ember months had set in, and resolved to increase police presence across the state.

“We have noticed heightened security across the State; there is high visibility of police and other security presence across the State; government has been taking over spaces across the State. Recall that most of the bridges are being cleared. This effort is geared towards displacing hoodlums who might want to use such areas as hideouts.

“We also talked about the influx of commercial motorcycle operators known as Okada riders. The Council has resolved to enforce the Lagos State Traffic Law prohibiting their operations in certain parts of the State. The enforcement will come up very soon after a lot of enlightenment because we have noticed that with the ban on commercial motorcyclists in some other states of the federation, there is that tendency that they might want to migrate towards Lagos,” he said.

Besides, Edgal disclosed that the Council has approved the resuscitation of the Joint Inter-Agency Raids Committee that will take care of raids on areas that are designated as black spots where criminals hibernate, such as uncompleted buildings, markets, among others to ensure that all areas where hoodlums hide or hibernate in the State are adequately protected.

He also said that the Council has approved partnership with the informal policing sector in all neighborhood across the State to stop the trend of residential robberies.

He, however, urged members of the public to continue to support the police with useful information and tips.