The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu on Tuesday requested for consideration and approval of posthumous special promotions for the police personnel who lost their lives to the recent EndSARS unrest in Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a statement by the CP on Tuesday during the visit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to the Lagos State Command and made available to CEOAFRICA.

In the statement titled “A speech delivered by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu, PSC, during the visit of the Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM,mni, to Lagos State Command on Tuesday, 3^rd November,2020” the CP emphasized that the promotion will give succor to the family of the lost officers and boost the morale of the serving officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Odumosu also requested for additional anti-riot equipment, four water cannons and non-lethal weapons like teasers, stunt guns etc. in order to help the command fight crime better.

The statement partly read, “It is not only a privileged pleasure but great historical opportunity for me to welcome the 20^th indigenous Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni, to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.

“I, on behalf of officers and men of the command, wish to appreciate the IGP for his sterling leadership qualities, professionalism and fatherly roles to the command during the recent EndSARS civil unrest which was challenging to the entire Police Command and Lagos State. The IGP has proved to us that the present Police leadership, under his watch, matches its words with actions in the areas of welfare for personnel, commitment to protection of lives and property and tenets of democratic values in the country. More importantly, your swift response to the yearnings of the protesting youths of Nigeria was as timely as ever, and commendable.  We are indeed very proud of you and grateful sir.”

The CP stated that the peaceful protest which was eventually hijacked by criminals lead to the loss of lives and properties.

Listing them he said, “regrettably, permit me to highlight the losses recorded during the recent unrest in the state both officially and on personal grounds as indicated in the table below:

The CP added that 90% of the injured police personnel have been treated and discharged whereas four (4) civilians lost their lives at various locations during the crisis.

The Commissioner also stated that some private and public facilities were set ablaze while others were looted.

According to him, they include, “Ports Authority (NPA), Marina Lagos, the Magistrate/ High/Appeal Courts Complex, Igbosere, Lagos Island, Lagos State, the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, Broad Street, Lagos Island, which was partly torched, the BRT Terminals at Ojodu, Iddo and Ikotun respectively, where over one hundred (100) Lagos State Transportation Buses, popularly referred to as BRT, were set ablaze,  Ejigbo LCDA Secretariat, Ejigbo, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat, Ajegunle, Lagos State, City Hall, Lagos Island and FRSC/VIO Office at Ojodu where only the vehicles parked outside the main buildings within their compounds were burnt. The private facilities torched and vandalised or looted included the Palace of the Oba of Lagos, Iga Iduganran, Lagos State, Access and GT banks and Ebeano Supermarket at Victoria Island, The Nation Newspaper at Fatai Atere Street, Mushin, where only vehicles were burnt, Shoprite Malls at Ajah, LTV 8, Alausa, Ikeja, TVC Station, Ikosi Road, Ketu, Lagos, Shoprite Mall at Surulere, Samsung Outlet at Apo R/About, Festac, Samsung Outlet at Oyingbo etc.”

He however assured the IGP that despite the challenges and trauma, that the force still stands tall and would never bow; adding that the command have been able to arrest 520 suspects who are being prosecuted in conjunction with the state ministry of justice and that lots of the looted items have been recovered.

He also informed the IGP that the command is adhering to the policing ideology.

He said,” the IGP sir, the command wished to inform you that we have prominently keyed into your present policing ideologies, especially, the Community Policing. This has been activated and currently in practice at all levels of the command. One of the major benefits of this is the various communities’ assistance to the command towards the recovery of some of the command’s looted items including arms, ammunition and other members of the public stolen properties.”

The Commissioner also brought the IGP to speed on the promises of the state governor in his last visit and asked him to appreciate the governor for his support to the Lagos Command.

He said, “ during the visit of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the command on 28^th October, 2020, he obliged to take full responsibility of the followings: footing the bills of the police personnel who sustained varying degree of injuries during the crisis, payment of compensation to the families of the deceased policemen who lost their lives during the crisis,  taking up the burial expenses of the policemen who died during the unrest, replacing official police vans and private cars and belongings of police officers that were burnt/vandalised during the unrest, placing the children of the police personnel who lost their lives during the crisis on scholarship till graduation from the university, providing makeshift structures and operational logistics for the burnt stations to hasten up the return of police personnel to the affected places for immediate police duties while promising to re-build all the burnt stations and police posts in line with international standard police stations , donating two (2) brand new 150 KVA generating sets to the command, constructing additional office accommodations at the command headquarters Ikeja etc.

“With these aforementioned supports from the state government and those expected from the IGP, we are optimistic that policing Lagos State will be made easier. We therefore appeal to the IGP to appreciate the Governor and the good people of Lagos State for their supports during the challenging times, and always, as those unquantifiable efforts cannot be taken for granted.” 

The CP subsequently assured the IGP that despite the challenges, the command is set to make policing more visible, people-oriented, intelligence-driven and proactive with a view to improving on the Standard Operating Procedure of the Police for better security architecture viz-a-viz safety of lives and property for all and sundry in Lagos State. 

The Commissioner of Police appreciated the IGP for coming and wished him journey mercy back to his destination.

He said, “in conclusion sir, the command counts your official visit to the state as timely, worthy and a blessing to Lagos State Police Command, and the state in general.

“While respectfully and humbly expressing our deepest appreciation to your esteemed and exalted office, we wholeheartedly wish and pray to Almighty God for journey mercy for you and your entourage as you return back to your destination.”