Lagos: Police heighten security across schools, worship centres amid national threats

Lagos State Police Command has intensified securityoperations across schools, worship centres, markets, recreational facilitiesand major event locations as part of a renewed strategy to forestall threatsand safeguard residents. The heightened security comes in the wake of recentincidents in other parts of the country, including the attack on a Catholicchurch in Eruku, Kwara State, and the abduction of students in Kebbi and Nigerstates by armed groups. Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja onSunday evening, the Commissioner of Police, Olorundare Jimoh, said proactivedeployments had been made to strategic points across Lagos to ensure hitch-freefestive activities. “We have set up a dedicated squad responsible for theprotection of schools, and our operations are progressing smoothly without anycause for alarm. “Intelligence operatives are actively monitoring keylocations to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the state,” he stated. He disclosed that security had been scaled up aroundcritical public infrastructure and border communities. According to him, the state’s waterways are now betterprotected following the recent deployment of 26 gunboats commissioned in Lagosby the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Jimoh revealed that a Submarine Tactical Squad had beencreated to boost maritime policing, while the EkoStrike Force, introduced bythe IGP to complement the Rapid Response Squad, had expanded land patrols andimproved emergency response. He noted that the EkoStrike Force had significantly enhancedthe Command’s ability to respond to security breaches, adding that Somolu LocalGovernment had completed a permanent operational base for the unit. The police chief added that the tactical squad had grownfrom 23 teams to 35, with plans to scale up to 57 teams so that every localgovernment and local council development area in Lagos would have a dedicatedrapid-response unit.

Read More