Matilda Omonaiye/
The police in Lagos are seeking input from the public as they embark on internal cleansing mission.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Imohimi Edgal, is overhauling the state’s crime-fighting machinery with the inauguration of a committee to reorganize Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Unit.
Inaugurating the 11-member committee today, Edgal said that restructuring the crime-fighting units was vital to achieving his goal of reducing criminality to the barest minimum in Lagos.
He said, “In line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police that all police investigating units should be restructured to discharge their duties in line with international best practices and standards of policing, I hereby constitute a panel to look into the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.”
He added that the committee would look into the present and past activities of FSARS, Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism units and recommend ways to make them more efficient and professional.
Edgal urged the committee to look into all allegations of human rights abuses against officers and men of the units and give recommendations to prevent reccurrence.
He also requested the body to profile personnel currently posted to the units and determine their suitability to continue in the unit.
His words: “The committee is also to make recommendations and suggestions for immediate training of officers and men of the units on principles and tenets of fundamental human rights and rule of law.
“The recommendations of the committee is aimed at stopping worrisome issues like investigation of civil matters, torture, illegal detentions, safety and custody of exhibits, welfare of suspects and molestation.”
Members of the committee headed by a retired CP, Mr Sam Dam Adegbuyi, includes the President, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, Mr Sunday Odita, DCP Bolaji Salami of the State CID; ACP Abiodun Alamutu, and the Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Olatunji Disu.
Others are CSP Effiong Asuquo, CSP Adebola Ojugbele, CSP Sanusi Mohammed (O/C SARS), CSP Anthony Okosun (O/C Anti-Kidnapping), SP Kehinde Johnson-Oni (O/C Anti-Cultism) and Mr Stanley Imhanruor from Femi Falana Chambers.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
Imohimi urged the public to send memoranda to the committee through the secretary’s email bolajislm@yahoo.com,effy3uyah@gmail.com, or through WhatsApp on 08033011644, 08033108820 and 08125151772 or to the nearest Area Commands and Divisional Police Stations.
Adegbuyi thanked the police command for giving the committee the opportunity to serve and assured that the panel would come up with recommendations worthy of emulation by other states.
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