Lockdown: Lagos State SCIID Filled With Suspects

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

This is not the best of times for the Lagos State Police Command despite their efforts to decongest the various detention facilities at SCIID Panti, Yaba, Lagos, due to the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19.

P.M.EXPRESS investigation revealed that the SCIID cells had been filled to full capacity and the Police authorities seem to be in dilemma on what to do with suspects being transferred to them from various Area Commands and Divisions almost on daily basis.
It was gathered that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, had earlier directed that the Police should grant bail on minor offences and serious offences like armed robbery, murder and others should be transferred to SCIID for further investigation and prosecution.The various Commands and Divisions have been doing so diligently but it has worsened the congestion of the cells at Panti for now.The ugly situation was even made worse because the various Courts in the State were shut due to the stay at home order contain the spread of Coronavirus and suspects cannot be taken to Court for prosecution and remand in prison.
It was also gathered that the Police authorities have taken short time measures to decongest the cells by transferring suspects to nearby Divisions around the SCIID, which will not take long before those cells will filled to its capacity.
Some of the residents, who knew the situation at SCIID, said that it was better for the Police Command to liaise with the Judiciary for possible arraignment of suspects and remand in prison custody to avoid another epidemic which will even affect Police officers at SCIID.
How the situation will be remedied was yet known as the Divisions and Commands have continued to arrest suspects who committed serious offences and transferred them to SCIID Panti. It might likely lead to rejection of suspects by SCIID from the Divisions and Commands, which will in turn necessitate releasing the suspects back to the society if there is no space to keep them.
When P.M.EXPRESS contacted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, over the Police plan on the crowded SCIID, his phone did not ring and was not available.