CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Despite the perennial security challenges in the Ejigbo area of Lagos, residents of the community have exposed a shocking discovery that the police station built in the area to enhance security has been abandoned and rented out to a popular church in Lagos.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the church, Living Rock Ministry allegedly rented the station located at Omiyale Street in Ejigbo and converted it into a worship centre.
Some of the residents who spoke to our Correspondent said the church has been inside the station for over five years now and the pastor in charge has allegedly been paying rent to subsequent DPOs who have served under the Ejigbo division.
According to them, because it was rented out to the church, the police has abandoned it for the church to continue to use the station properties because of the rent accruing from it.
Our correspondent could not independently confirm the information as claimed by the residents as efforts to know who let out and collected the rent on the property from the church was abortive.
At Ejigbo police division, the DPO, CSP Okezie was not available to comment on the matter.
However, a police source told our reporter that the present DPO has asked the church to leave the station and the church itself already complied and moved out their properties.
A visit to the station also confirmed that the church has left the premises.
The residents have raised alarm complaining of high rate of crime in the area including armed robbery, cultism, and burglary.
They lamented that it was unfortunate such police station could be built and rented out to church thereby foreclosed the protection of lives and properties in the area.
But a resident told our reporter that the police was forced to take the decision when they raised alarm over the church thus the police quickly instructed the church to vacate the place.