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Why We Withdrew Lagos Speaker, Meranda’s Security Details – Police
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has explained why security details attached to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, were withdrawn, noting that the aides have since been restored.
The Lagos Police boss, while confirming the withdrawal of four policemen attached to Meranda, blamed the withdrawal on the audit of all policemen attached to VIPs in the state.
He also claimed that it was not Meranda’s security aides who were withdrawn and that those of other VIPs were also withdrawn during the audit.
CP Jimoh also insisted that the audit is not peculiar to the Lagos State Police Command, adding that it also happened in other states of the country.
He said, “Lagos with a population of about 20 million persons have 18,000 police personnel. This is grossly inadequate for a state like Lagos which is centre of excellence.
“The audit will help us to know those on illegal duty, those who are where they are not supposed to be. Once the audit is completed, we start to reassign them to Divisions and Post to help in policing the state effectively.”
Continuing, the CP added that the audit is a statutory laid-down procedure of the police, which is not limited to the state command alone.
“Periodic audit of police personnel attached to eminent personalities and groups is a police statutory laid down procedure which is not limited to Lagos State Police Command alone, this is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for including their firearms and other police crime fighting equipment in their possession.
“To further ensure that they are on their duty posts and the firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused. As we speak, other police state commands in the Country are carrying out similar audits of Police personnel hitch-free and without any problem.
“The exercise will equally avail the Command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval and or those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, those with invalid approval and those on illegal duty and redeploy them to Police Posts, Stations, Divisions and Area Commands to provide security and safety for all Lagosians.
“It is important to underscore the facts that Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence with more than Twenty million population but with a strength of police personnel of less than 18,000 in total need more personnel to be at the police posts, police stations, divisions for the safety and adequate protection of lives and property of everyone in Lagos State.
“The ongoing police personnel audit in the Lagos State Command is done in absolutely public interest and not with any other considerations, except for the safety of all in the State. As I speak with you, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the four armed personnel attached to her from the Lagos State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.
“It is pertinent to also state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise once again is not aimed or targeted at any individual,” the CP added.
“However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing the audit process with the Command, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken. Let me sound a note of warning that prominent persons/individuals without valid approval, Police deployment to them will be withdrawn throughout the State.
“The Special Protection Units Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personnel protection, will be centrally done throughout the country at the Force Headquarters,” the Lagos CP added.
The Ayo Ogunsan-led Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has refurbished an eight-years-long abandoned Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicle belonging to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigerian Police Force, Lagos State Command.
Itvwas reported that for eight years, one of the APCs acquired by Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF for the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had major mechanical challenges, left to rot to the extent that even rodents made it their abode. The report added that the APC experienced structural fatigue, mechanical failure, electrical dysfunction, and everything that could be used to describe a rundown vehicle.
“Its state of decay was so appaling and disgusting that it needed a complete overhaul,” the report said.
Upon his assumption of office as LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan took an inventory of all LSSTF assets procured for Lagos’ security and identified some that required urgent repairs and maintenance. The APC abandoned for 8 years fell in this category.
For many weeks, engineers with expertise and experience in repairing APCs worked assiduously to get it back to life. It was restored bit by bit, bolt to nut, wire to cable, engine parts, hydraulics, everything with precision engineering. Finally, the LSSTF’s APC is back to life and running.
Today, Dr. Ogunsan was visibly satisfied and impressed with the excellent repairs on the vehicle as he carefully assessed the work done. He also took time with the mechanical engineers to move the armoured vehicle to test run it and ascertain its operational efficiency.
The repairs were facilitated by the corporate donations and retail donations received by LSSTF, in the course of Dr. Ogunsan’s administration which has spanned a little above 100 days.
Speaking after the assessment, the LSSTF boss, Dr. Ogunsan thanked the engineers who worked on the project. He also appreciated the resilient donors who gave resources to the LSSTF which made the overhaul maintenance possible.
He was also stern in his warning that such dilapidation of LSSTF assets would no longer be tolerated. He signalled that security agencies that obtain resources from LSSTF would be required to give an account on a periodic basis.
The APC is now certified to resume work. It will strengthen the operational capacity of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos. It is expected to be put into use during high-risk operations, rapid deployment, and patrol duties across critical areas of Lagos, especially during emergencies and security threats.
The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) is a specialized tactical unit of the Nigeria Police Force fully funded by the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). The squad conducts round-the-clock patrols, intelligence-driven operations, and swift interventions to ensure public safety and maintain law and order across the state.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, dismissed a case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), against suspended DCP Abba Kyari on allegations bordering on non-disclosure of assets.
Justice James Omotosho dismissed the suit, filed against Kyari and his younger brothers, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, for failure of the anti-narcotic agency to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has vowed to take strict action against any officer found to be involved in extortion, reckless enforcement, or other unethical practices.
The Corps Marshal, Mallam Shehu Mohammed, gave the warning on Tuesday in Ibadan, at a sensitisation programme tagged: “Discipline Reinforcement and Strengthening of Command and Control in Field Commands.”
Represented by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC boss said that the corps had, over the past months, observed a disturbing decline in discipline, professionalism, and effective command and control in most field commands.
Mohammed noted that the lapses had manifested as misconduct, unethical practices, abuse of authority, extortion, reckless enforcement behaviours and other actions that contradicted everything the uniform represented.
According to him, the disturbing trend has steadily eroded public trust in the corps.
“Let me state clearly and without ambiguity that such behaviours are unacceptable. They violate our regulations, betray our training, contradict our core values and ultimately endanger the credibility and reputation of the corps.
“Every time a road user loses confidence in us, our mandate becomes harder to achieve.
“Every act of unprofessional conduct damages the image of thousands of disciplined staff, and every abuse of authority weakens the trust built over the decades.
“We must remind ourselves that the corps was not created merely to enforce traffic laws. We were established to save lives and serve the public with integrity.
“Our authority flows directly from public trust, and once that trust is compromised, our effectiveness is compromised.
“This is why the present exercise is a corrective measure, not a witch-hunt, but an opportunity for reorientation, reinforcement and renewal,” he said.
He urged young officers and marshals to remember that their uniforms remain a symbol of honour, which must be worn with pride.
He added that their conduct on the road and in public spaces speaks louder than any public relations effort.
The corps marshal also charged commanding officers and other supervisors to actively supervise, promptly correct, consistently mentor, and never tolerate misconduct in silence, noting that silence in the face of wrongdoing was complicity.
“Going forward, discipline will be strengthened; accountability will be enforced; ethical standards will be upheld, commendable conduct will be rewarded, and violations will be sanctioned with fairness and firmness,” he said.
Earlier in her remarks, the FRSC Oyo Sector Commander, Mrs Rosemary Alo, described the programme as apt and strategic, emphasising that discipline remains the bedrock of any paramilitary organisation.
She noted that the FRSC, being officers entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding lives on highways, must continually realign themselves with the core values of the corps, which are professionalism, integrity, transparency and accountability.
“Command and control are operational necessities. Effective supervision, clear communication channels and adherence to laid-down procedures ensure that we function as a unified and efficient system.
“When discipline is reinforced, and command structures are respected, operational results improve, public confidence increases and the image of the corps is strengthened,” she said.
Alo urged members of the public to take advantage of the FRSC mobile apps on the Play Store to report incidents promptly, give feedback, and actively engage with the corps on its services.
