Lagos CP Edgal Is An Oracle of Police Strategy' -SP Chike Oti

PPRO EXPLAINS HOW THE CP ‘CRIME-MAP’ LAGOS FOR EFFECTIVE POLICING

Gallantly handsome Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police, SP and Public Relations Officer, PPRO of the Lagos State Police Command hosts SECURITY MONITOR’s Managing Editor, Wale Abideen, Photo Journalist, Shola Akinyele and Crime Correspondent, Chinyere Ikem at the Lagos Police Command recently where he dissects a number of security issues including the wanted Badoo suspects, abuse of police powers and how to seek redress. He also harps on the strategic policing thrusts of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Edgal Imohimi and explains why he called the CP, an Oracle of Police Strategy.

What is the most complex security challenge disturbing the state?

Lagos State Police Command does not consider any security challenge to be too disturbing or worrisome. It is our job to tackle security challenges and no crime disturb us as such. In fact, we do not consider any crime to be too big or small. We do not overlook any criminal act no matter how small. We give utmost priority to all crimes. The question is, ‘does Lagos Police Command want a girl walking outside there to be robbed of her hand bag? The answer is no. Does Lagos Police Command want any girl to be rapped? No. Does Lagos Police Command want cybercrime to triumph? No. Do we want cultists to operate and get away with their activities? No. So, every crime is important to us. The way and manner they carry out those crimes, how they plan it, execute it, who are their sponsors or accomplices are the daily things we study in the police and we strategize to nip the crime in bud before it happens. We also plan how to reduce or eradicate crimes by ensuring we arrest criminal elements so as to make them face the law and serve as deterrent to others.

All over the globe, what the police do is to reduce crime because crime is part of global phenomenon and it happens everywhere. But to us in Lagos Police Command, we put all energy in place to neutralize criminal plans and reduce crime and criminal activities to its barest minimum.

What’s the policing trust of the current leadership in Lagos Police Command?

I would like to give the credits of the peace and certain security breakthrough we enjoy in Lagos now to the Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi. He’s a man I called the oracle of Police operations and strategies. He has never short of ideas needed to arrest any security complications. We can draw example from the way he followed up on the Badoo killings and he never rest until he brought the menace to it end. We’ve seen him exhibiting brilliant and talented policing strategies in the state. Since, he came on board; the issue of car theft has become things of the past. The few cases of robberies has been arrested and he’s at the moment working on anti-cultism and anti-rape police strategy. I’m sure, one day; Lagosians will clap for him for these giant feats. The CP has never given himself the credit. In fact, he applauds the fantastic supports of law abiding Lagosians and the gallant nature of the men and officers of the command. In many occasions, he hails the huge contributions of the traditional rulers because what we operate is a reflection of community policing and safety partnership thrust of the CP. This ideology is an offshoot of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Police philosophy. But my CP has been a fateful disciple of community policing and he has advanced that cause for the benefit of adequate protection of lives and properties in the state. Don’t forget, community policing is an ideal way of policing in this modern generation and I enjoin every Lagososian to join the trend of policing the state collectively.

The Badoo killings is one of the success story of the CP Edgal led Command but a lot of people wonder why you made some arrests and even declare a suspect wanted without charging anybody to court. We even learnt that the prime suspect is hiding somewhere in Ogbomoso or Oyo. So, why is it difficult to charge suspects to court or is there no enough evidence against them?

If you know the CP very well, you will understand that he is a man who says it the way he sees it. The Badoo killings is one crime my CP took a personal courage to identify it as a serious security challenge and he proffers solution that brought the menace to its knee. Despite the fact that the menace is becoming history, I want to believe people know where we are coming from and where we are now as far as Badoo Killings is all about. The CP identified the Badoo killings as a project; he went round and amasses support for the project. He knew the Badoo killers are in the society. They live, wine and dine within the society. To some people, “the Badoo is invincible” but to my CP, Badoo killers are human beings and that was what he instill in us that compel us to swing into series of investigation that led to the dislodge of the criminals. The CP believes so much in a transparent policing style and that was why he ensures the press is always invited whenever we are going for the Badoo operations especially to make arrests. First, the CP wants to ensure that in doing so, nobody’s right was infringe upon and to ensure the whole world understand how we carry out the operations without harassing anybody or infringe on peoples’ right.

On the issue of a wanted person, first, there are procedures laid down by the law to declare someone wanted. The CP took the pain to go through such procedure before we declare the man wanted. And talking about whether he’s above the law because you learnt he is hiding somewhere, we don’t have such evidence that he is there because we are still looking for him. Many people were arrested in connection to the Badoo killings. They make confessions and mentioned names. The man we declared wanted now was one the names that were mentioned and we invited him to come clear his name. He refused to come and that is applicable to every other suspect. We looked around for him; we couldn’t get him hence we have to throw it to the public domain that we are actually looking for this person in connection to the Badoo killings. Police took necessary legal proceedings and obtain Warrant of Arrest from Court of competent jurisdiction. This means that any member of the public can arrest such a person and hand him over to the nearest police authority or inform the police of his where about. We actually want people to help the police arrest this man to come and clear issues surrounding his personality as far as Badoo killings is all about.

Are you aware the man is in Nigeria and somewhere in Oyo state?

If I have such information I will go there and arrest him immediately. If I know where he is I will go there and get him arrested and I’m also informing you now that if you know his where about please assist the police with such useful information. The police are hungry for information about this wanted suspect.

Lagos Riverine communities have always been a source of security concern. How would you describe the police preparedness at ensuring a continuous peace in the riverine areas?

I will ascribe the position of a coach to each Police Commissioner. A coach as a leader of a team has his strategy he imbeds in his team member to achieve target result. Therefore, my CP has his policing strategy and such special acumen we have seen in the way police handle robbery, Badoo and of late cultism. Sometimes, these strategies are not what we exposed to the world before we execute. The reason is simple, the criminal elements are also part of the society who may read the news and counter such security strategies. All police formations are been carried along in this direction and every one of us is aware of the policy trust. You see, it’s not only the riverine communities; my CP has effectively “Crime Map” the state. For every community there is always a peculiar security challenge and that is why I tell you initially that there is no small or big security challenge in Lagos Police Command as the style of current leadership in Lagos Command is to ensure peace and safety of lives and properties of all Lagosians. The riverine communities are effectively policed and thank God you also said that kidnapping is no more rampant in the state unlike before now. CP Edgal policing mechanism is certainly working for us and that is why I refer to the CP as Oracle of Police Strategy.

What’s the Command doing to address issues of police excessiveness and abuse of power especially when there are claims by activists and right groups that police in Lagos are infringing upon peoples’ right?

Good question, when my CP comes on board, the first thing he did was to establish Citizens Complaint Center to address issues like this. The center has dedicated phone lines and other means of communications. The center is saddled with the responsibilities of obtaining complaints of abuses by police officers from the citizens. And at every public occasion, the CP real out his mobile lines so that people can call him directly to lodge complains about their encounter with the police officers in the state. Why did he do so, so as to avoid abuses of people’s right? And it is also a signal to every police officer who will like to misbehave that the sheriff in town doesn’t tolerate such nonsense. And that is why you have not been having genuine case of human right abuse. But in every twelve there would be a Judas and giving the fact that police has enormous power there is always constitutional way to check such powers. My CP always take time to lecture the men and officers of the force on what will happen to them if they misuse their constitutional powers. During a public program after three months in office, the CP made it known that abuse of power will be severely dealt with. That is why he has edged out 9 officers who have been found wanting in discharging their duties. 25 officers were also demoted to their former rank as punishment to their misconduct. It’s not easy to dismiss one person but it takes a man of integrity who had earlier gave warnings of such consequences to dismiss nine officers so as to sanitize the system and make it free of bad eggs. About 60 officers were also given warning letter. My CP is a man who confronts corruption and says no you don’t have a place in me.

CP Edgal is kind but brilliant to know if you commit crime or been abused by police officers. He has warned criminal elements within and outside police that crime does not have a place in Lagos. If you commit a crime in Lagos and run to Maiduguri the CP will go there and get you arrested. If you commit crime in Lagos and run to a remote village in Anambra the CP will go there and brought you to justice. And for me, a man like that deserves nothing less than our total support and commendation.

What’s your advice to Lagosians?

To the law abiding Lagosians, I congratulate you all for been morally conscious and to the criminal minded, please repent so that the long arm of the law does not come against you.