INSECURITY: The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi has responded to the report of partial lockdown of the state reported in the media earlier today in response to the overwhelming threats of attacks by terrorists in the state.

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What We Know

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police todays respondent to the media reports on the earlier official statement from his office suggesting a partial lock down and increased security measures in the state.

Abiodun Alabi in his response offered some clarifications to the earlier statement, while denying the reports about partial lockdown in Lagos State.

He said in line with the prevailing security threats in the country, policemen have been deployed to man the entry and exit points of the state to prevent crime from happening.

Recall that Clariform had earlier reported this story but in a chat with media sources the CP said the policemen are to be deployed in the exit and entry points of the state so as to engage in stop-and-search enforcement.

He clarified that there is no partial lockdown in Lagos, saying every law abiding citizen can go about their activities freely.

He said the move was part of the command’s proactive measures to protect lives and property through the provision of adequate security in the state.

The Lagos CP however, dispelled the narratives that Lagos State had been placed on a partial lockdown due to security threats.

Notable Quote

In Mr. Alabi’s words:

“It is just stop-and-search which is just preventive measures. It is just proactive and preventive measures because of the prevailing security situation in the country.”

He added: “We were advised to put in place preventive and proactive measures, so, partial lockdown where, we are just doing our normal stop-and-search to prevent crime, and it is at the entry and exit points and not that Lagos State is on partial lockdown.”

“Where is a partial lockdown? is there anything like partial lockdown? it is just stop and search as preventive measures.”

Catch-up

There has been heightened security alert around the commercial city of Lagos in the recent times following the news that terrorists are planning to carry out attack in the state.

This is in the wake of the fact that the terrorists are beginning to make incremental expansion outside of the northern part of the country where they have held sway for over 10 years, carrying out all manners of criminality and violence.

The southwest have also come under attack on some occasions by the criminal element of the Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram terrorists.

In the town of Owo in Ondo State, the St. Francis Catholic Church was attacked by the terrorist who killed over 40 worshippers during a Sunday service, while leaving many others injured.

The coordination of the Omotekun regional security outfit with the conventional security bodies such as the DSS, Army and the Police have led to the arrest of some persons involved in the attack.