We Have Decimated ‘One Million Boys’ – Says CP Odumosu 

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has declared that the there is no room for bandits in the State as the Police have since decimated the deadly ‘One Million Boys’, arrested over 800 of them and recovered 40 arms and ammunition.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Odumosu stated this during the joint confidence building patrol across the State with the Army, Air force, Navy, DSS, among others.The large convoy of the Security Chiefs visited Ikeja, Mangoro, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Dopemu, Ojodu, Berger, Ogba, Abattoir, Oshodi, Mushin, Lawanson, Surulere, Orile, Bode Thomas, Sabo, Ejigbo, Aguda, Ijesha, Ago Okota, FESTAC, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Idimu, Agege, ikotun, Idimu, Igando, Kofo Abayomi,  Ajah, Ilaje, Langbasa, Adeniji Adele, Ebute Ero, Apapa, Ajegunle, Tolu, Amukoko, Ijora Badia, Layeni, among others.

The Police boss and other speakers addressed the residents of the various communities in English, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa Languages.

According to a release by the Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, the Commissioner of Police reassured them of the unwavering commitment of law enforcement agencies in the State to protect their lives and properties. 

“The CP advised residents to shun rumour mongering and spreading of fake news. He described the rumour making the rounds on social media that a gang of criminals known as ‘One Million Boys’ planning to attack some communities in Lagos State, as baseless.”

Elkana said the Command, under CP Hakeem Odumosu’s watch, had in the last four months incapacitated the gang and other criminal elements in the State with the arrest of over 800 suspects and recovery of over 40 various categories of firearms. That on assumption of duty as Commissioner of Police Lagos State, he launched a special operation known as Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants with a mandate to identify the various cult and gangs in the State, isolate them, and bring them to justice. The Operations which are intelligence driven, took the battle to their doorsteps, targeted their top hierarchy and dealt decisively with them.
 As the war against cultism and gangsterism requires a collective approach, the CP called on Community leaders, traditional rulers, religion leaders, Landlords associations and other stakeholders to support the ongoing onslaught on criminal elements in the State. He urged parents to monitor the activities of their children and wards and ensure that their children are not recruited into any criminal gang. 

On the spontaneous creation of vigilante groups by youths in various communities, the CP said it is one of the principles of community policing for citizens to participate in policing their local communities but it has to be monitored and controlled by the Police for quality assurance. Such vigilante groups must conduct themselves in a way that their activities will not create more tension and panic  as witnessed in the manner  some of them were in the last few days seen displaying dangerous weapons and burning tyres. Their conducts created more panics and in some instances, residents assumed them to be armed robbers and gangsters. 

In order to address this gap, community leaders and landlords associations among others, are tasked with the responsibility of vetting the youths the communities trust enough to participate in policing their neighbourhoods. “The Neighbourhoods Watch initiative must be strictly monitored and controlled” he said.  

In his remarks, the Air force Commander said that the Chief of Air Staff has graciously deployed Air Force helicopters to join the Police helicopters initially deployed for aerial surveillance by the Police. Both the Air Force and Police helicopters were seen hovering around and providing air supports to the Special Forces on ground. The Special Forces drawn from various tactical units were deployed by the Inspector General of Police to support the teams earlier deployed by the Commissioner of Police Lagos State. They are working closely with operatives from other services to provide round the clock patrols and surveillance across the State. 

The Command appreciates the Government and people of Lagos State for their support in the ongoing onslaught on criminal elements. The CP thanked the Inspector General of Police for supporting the Command with both human and material resources in combating crime in the State, especially the deployment. He assured residents that no stone will be left unturned until Lagos State is completely rid of criminal elements. Meanwhile, tension has reduced in all the communities visited. There is still heavy presence of Policemen patrolling the communities visited and other parts of the State.