COVID-19: Lagos DPO, Officers Booted Out for Non-Enforcement of Protocols …113 Arrested at Night Clubs

Matilda Omonaiye/

Police authorities in Lagos have kicked out the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Ajao Estate and his senior officers in the Division over their alleged failure to prevent night clubbing in their area.

According to a statement from the Lagos State police spokesman, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, the officers were redeployed for allowing night clubbing at Garbana Club, where 41 clubbers were later arrested at about 2.30 am yesterday.

Adejobi stated: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State made the pronouncement while addressing officers Area Commanders and DPOs at the POWA Hall, Oduduwa Ikeja, on Monday, 8th March 2021. Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had warned Area Commanders and DPOs to enforce COVID-19 protocols in their areas and on no account should any of them allow gross violation…”

The Commissioner of Police (CP) Hakeem Odumosu paraded 113 violators of COVID-19 protocols at the Command Headquarters, in Ikeja, today.

Adejobi stated: “The violators were arrested on Sunday 7th March, 2021 at Garbana Club, Ajao Estate and DNA Club, Victoria Island, Lagos by police operatives of the command including the Lagos State Taskforce led by the Commander, CSP Sola Jejeloye.

“The Commissioner of Police, while parading the suspects, vowed to go after club owners and their Landlords who contravene the town planning approvals of the state by converting their properties meant for other purposes to night clubs. He emphasized on the need to make them scapegoats so as to serve as deterrent to others in the state. 

“In the same vein the Commissioner of Police had a meeting with all the Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and Heads of Departments today Monday 8th March, 2021, at the POWA Hall, Oduduwa, in Ikeja on having better security of Lagos State.

“The Commissioner of Police rolled out his plans and strategies to be adopted in curbing crimes and criminality in the state and to specifically tackle cultism in certain areas within the state.

“The police boss also warned against the nonchalant attitudes of security personnel towards observing COVID-19 protocols in the state. He vowed to deal decisively with anyone caught in the web of gross violation of the protocols whether civilian or service personnel, as the fight against violation of the protocols is not selective.

“The Commissioner of Police, at the meeting, pronounced the deployment of the DPO Ajao Estate and his senior officers for allowing night clubbing and violation of other COVID-19 protocols in the area. He warned others to learn and desist from the negligence of the DPO Ajao Estate as any DPO who promotes violation of COVID-19 protocols will be “fired” and sanctioned departmentally.

“CP Hakeem Odumosu charged the officers and men of the command to discharge their duties without fair or favour and ensure regular visibility policing in their areas of responsibility in the state.”

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