The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has revealed that only two kidnap cases were recorded in Lagos within the past seven months.
He said this on Friday evening at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja where he was hosted to a town hall meeting.
Addressing members of the premium family club earlier which he also belongs to, Alabi identified the major crimes in Lagos as traffic robbery, cultism and house breaking and stealing but assured that the police was on top of its game.
“For seven months now, we have had only two kidnapping cases. One, along the Festac Area and the other in Epe,” said the top cop who attended the event with his wife.
“For the past seven months, I can say that we have not been doing badly. But we are not there yet. That’s the fact. Lagos has been one of the most relatively peaceful states in the country. I am in a position to say this because I have the statistics. On a daily basis, all the Commissioners of Police throughout the states are expected to render situation report of the crime situation in their various commands to Force Headquarters and their zonal Commanders.”
Alabi who became the Lagos State Police Commissioner in January 2022, also said the Command is tackling cultism in areas like Ijora Badia, Ikorodu, Agege and Orile axis.
“Within the past seven months, we have been able to arrest and prosecute not less than 250 cultists.”
Alabi said that because Lagos is the most densely populated and commercialised state, it was expected to have an upsurge in crime but reverse is the case.
“We have states that are not as commercialised as Lagos, that are not as industrialised as Lagos, but the crime rates in those states are more than what we are experiencing in Lagos.”
He however, reiterated the need for community policing in the state.
“Policing is not for Nigeria Police alone. It is everybody’s business. So, everybody must get involved.” Alabi also lauded the Lagos State government for its support to the police.
“Lagos State has always been supporting, right from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and our current Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he said.
“The support that they have been giving Lagos State police has been very tremendous. And that has made it possible for us to really put our professional expertise to bear.”
The President, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Arc Funmi Bamkole, thanked the Commissioner of Police for honouring the invitation to engage with members.