The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has announced heightened security deployments across schools, worship centres, and other public spaces to prevent breaches during the ember months and into the New Year.
Speaking at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday, Jimoh assured residents that Lagos remains safe, stressing that additional tactical units have been mobilised across local councils. “We want the general public to know that Lagos is safe and secure. We have made additional deployments to all schools, places of worship, religious centres and other locations frequently visited by people. This will continue into the New Year and beyond to ensure the safety of all Lagosians and other Nigerians coming into the state,” he said.
The move comes amid rising insecurity nationwide, with recent abductions reported in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States.
Jimoh also revealed that newly employed drivers and car wash attendants were behind a spate of vehicle thefts in Lagos. During the briefing, he paraded 10 recovered exotic vehicles and disclosed that 56 suspects had been arrested for various offences. “Most of the stolen vehicles were taken by drivers who had just been employed, or by car wash attendants entrusted with the cars,” he explained.
Recovered vehicles included a white Toyota Hilux, a white Range Rover SUV, a black Land Cruiser, a silver Lexus GX460 SUV, a silver Honda CR-V, two Toyota Corollas, and a Boxer Bajaj motorcycle used in a robbery attempt. Weapons seized from suspects were also displayed, including four locally made pistols, a cut-to-size single-barrel shotgun, a fabricated firearm, cartridges, and a machete.
Jimoh urged residents to adopt stricter security measures, warning against leaving car keys with strangers or newly engaged workers. “We should be more security conscious by ensuring that when we take our vehicle to a car wash, we don’t leave the key with the attendant,” he advised.
The police commissioner assured that intensified operations would continue into the New Year to sustain Lagos’ crime-fighting drive, particularly around public institutions and areas with high human traffic.
