Lagos Police sacks eight officers for ‘very serious criminal offences,’ disciplines 108 others

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State , Mr . Imohimi Edgal , on Wednesday said eight officers were dismissed over “ very serious criminal offences , ” while six others were demoted in ranks.Edgal, also said that 108 officers were disciplined for various offences from January to July , 2018 in the Lagos State Command .

He made the disclosure at a Stakeholders’ Forum on “ Police Accountability and Presentation of Advocacy Materials at the command ’ s headquarters , Ikeja .

The police chief said that 58 other officers recorded major entries , six officers reprimanded , 28 officers got warning motors , four officers had extra fatigue , while five others were discharged for lack of evidences against them .

“The days of police officers receiving slaps on the wrist for offences are gone . When you performed excellently well , you will receive a CP ’ s Commendation Letter.

“I am not happy punishing any officer , but that does not mean we should overlook unprofessional conducts . When I resumed as CP Lagos , I discovered that the public had lost confidence in the police .

“I set up a Citizen Complaint Hot Centre with 10 mobile phone lines through which people can complain about the wrongs of our men . I have received many complaints .

“However , there is no way I would know all that my men are doing if nobody complained, ” he said.

Edgal called on people in Lagos to continue to assist the police with information and other assistance , stressing that the 28 , 000 officers and men in Lagos were inadequate to police the state.

According to him , community policing in the state is working as it had reduced crimes by 35 per cent .

Commending the forum organised by the civil society groups , he said that it would also assist the police to perform better .

Edgal , while appointing a senior police officer , SP Abubakar Aliyah from the X -Squad , as member of the forum , promised to monitor the activities of the forum ,

Also , Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma , the National Coordinator , Network For Police Reform In Nigeria ( NOPRIN ) and Chairman of the forum , spoke on “ Toward Sustained Community Partnership with the Lagos State Police ” .

Nwanguma said that the forum was formed with a view to have regular engagement and interaction with the Lagos State Police Command on issues of police accountability .

“The platform is to stand as a liaison between the police and the communities .

“This is with a view to deepening partnership between the police and the communities they serve and to improve public safety and security .

“We want to gain deeper understanding of the workings of the various complaints and disciplinary mechanisms within the Lagos State Police Command and the feedback system .

“We want to have a formalised and structured engagement with them , contribute to strengthening them and promoting police accountability , ” he said.

Nwanguma commended Edgal for his human rights record , noting that he was one of the best commissioners in the country with good human rights police command .

The Head of Monitoring , National Human Rights Commission, South – West , Mrs Nneka Anigbo , said that the launch of the forum was a welcome development.

Anigbo said the commission would support the forum to succeed , and commended the CP for a job well done in the state.

The President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria ( CRAN ) , Mr Odita Sunday , praised the initiative behind the forum , urging Edgal to maintain the high level of crime fighting .

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that highlight of the launch included the presentation of some advocacy materials by Nwanguma and Mrs Bose Iro Ndu of Women ’ s Rights and Health Project .

( NAN )

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