“…CULTISM, ILLEGAL FIREARMS THREATENS INTERNAL SECURITY” – CP OWOHUNWA
By Okosun Dennis
The much anticipated Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the Lagos State Police Command, was inaugurated by the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun at Command Headquarters, Ikeja on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
CRU is a highly sophisticated technology-driven unit saddled with the responsibility of receiving, analysing, and handling complaints lodged by members of the public against police personnel and general crimes within their neighbourhood with a view to having expeditious response.
The CRU located at the Headquarters, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, IGP Egbetokun before commissioning the projects with some donations from private citizens, explained that the unit was not met to witch-hunt personnel but to promote accountability but to enhance police collaboration and build confidence among the public.
Not satisfied with the barrages of misdemeanour against police personnel which have always found expression in social media, the IGP noted that “we don’t want actions of NPF personnel to be reported at social media but be taken to Complaint Response Unit.
“Shun bad conduct and show commitment to professionalism. Show transparency and let the members of the public know that you care for them.”
While appealing to donors to continue to support the police in the provision of equipment and other logistics needs, IGP Egbetokun observed that the actualisation of the unit a few weeks after he made such pronouncement, is for our common good and in fulfillment of our constitutional mandate.
In an interview, IGP Egbetokun threw more light on what the police authority is doing to curb crimes in society. “If you have been following our activities since I became the Acting IGP, we have taken steps to do a number of things to ensure crime is reduced to the barest minimum; and ensure that we restore security to troubled areas.
“On Abuja -Kaduna Road, the IGP added, “we have taken steps against the criminal elements that have been terrorising motorists along that route. Very soon, you are going to be seeing results.
“We are embarking on the establishment of a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), mobilization has started and the success of that will be seen very soon. The SIS will get into operations in the states we have chosen to start with.
“Just give us a little time, you will start seeing our actions yielding results. Luckily, we have a government in place that cares so much about the welfare of the police; a government that understands the security challenges and welfare of the force. I have the assurances of Mr. President that efforts are underway to bring smiles to the faces of the Nigeria Police Personnel.
On the forensic unit, “we are taking things one after the other as we cannot do everything at the same time. We have launched CRU today. We want to build confidence in members of the public; and enhance police-public collaboration. The CRU is needed to achieve all these.
“Now, members of the public that have complaints against the police have a place to do so. I want to assure Nigerians that we are going to make this place functional in all the states of the Federation. Lagos state has started and the facilities are excellent.
“Officers to work in the CRU will be carefully selected; people of impeccable integrity, would be given special training, well-motivated with exposure to training overseas. We are going to replicate this in other states of the Federation.”
Earlier, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa said the maiden visit of the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun to the state was significantly symbolic as it afforded personnel the opportunity to interact with him and express their minds in a relaxed mood.
In his brief, he said internal security is laced with a plethora of cases bordering on cultism, robbery; the proliferation and fabrication of illegal firearms and illicit use of drugs; the prevalence of land disputes, and traffic robberies, adding that traffic robberies are compounded by repair works on the roads which slows down traffic and poses dangerous security threat.
While eulogizing the ingenuity of policemen for their professionalism, he warned that there are some deviants among them and called on them to change over a new leaf.
Also, during his tour of facilities in Lagos, IGP Kayode Egbetokun inaugurated some projects built by Mobile Police Force No 22 Squadron under the leadership of ACP Braide Ibiye Elekima.
Such projects included the remodelled and furnished administrative building; newly built and equipped Police Clinic, ICT Centre, Tailoring workshop, and 14 Bed Transit Camp.
Others were the newly installed 10 Solar light units; the newly built Gate/Security post casting of 304 Square Metres of parking space and the Parade Ground.
In their goodwill messages by Chief Femi Falana, Mr. Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, pledged support to ensure that CRU is activated in other states of the Federation.
According to Mr. Akpata, he promised to make resources available to establish CRU in Edo and Delta states Command just as he did in Lagos, while Chief Falana vowed to sponsor Abuja and three other states’ CRU centers.
Also, the Convener, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Okei-Odumakin, Head of Security, Airtel, Dr. Seyi Adetayo, while commending the police for their work but called for their proactivity
In addition, he promised to represent police personnel pro bono in court.
Present at the CRU inauguration were the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Abiodun Sylvester Alabi; the Commander, Zone 2, Onikan, AIG Mohammed Ari Ali; Commissioners of Police of various commands in Lagos; the Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment; Commander, NNS Beecroft, Apapa and Nigerian Air force counterpart.
Others included Kenneth Chukwu Ofili of 9Mobile network, Director, Department of State Security (DSS) Lagos Command; Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos Command, Director, CLEEN Foundation among other dignitaries.
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