Corruption: Police Sack Anti-Cultism Squad

Matilda Omonaiye/

Police authorities in Lagos today announced the removal of the commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad and the redeployment of all personnel of the elite unit due to repeated public complaints against their conduct.

The command in a statement obtained by NewsmakersNG said the officers and men, including the officer-in-charge of the unit, SP Godwin Agbegbe, were specifically removed due to unprofessional conduct and corrupt practices.

The statement said a new commander, CSP Akaninyene Etuk, had taken charge of the unit, while all the redeployed personnel had been ordered to report to the command’s headquarters in Ikeja for debriefing.

The command’s spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, who signed the statement, said the commissioner of police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, also solicited the support of the public in the fight against the menace of cultism in the state.

The statement urged members of the public who have useful information about the activities of cultists in any part of the state to contact the commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad directly on mobile phone number 08034448617.

It also assured potential informants that all calls would be handled with utmost confidentiality.

The statement read: “In a move to reposition and reinvigorate the command’s Anti-Cultism Squad, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, has redeployed the Officer-in-Charge of the Squad , SP Godwin Agbegbe while CSP Akaninyene Etuk has been posted to take over from him.

“Similarly, all members of the squad were relieved of their duty posts and have been directed to report to the Lagos State Police Headquarters for debriefing.

“The reorganisation of the squad was necessitated by unprofessional conducts of its personnel and corruption in the unit. It is also to revitalise the outfit, believed to be very crucial in the fight against cultists and cultism in the state by infusing it with fresh blood for better service delivery.

“The CP Lagos warns that the same treatment awaits any other unit in the command that is working at cross purposes with the fundamental objectives of the Nigeria Police Force. He added that Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments must increase supervision of their men in order to ensure non violation of the police Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).”

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