The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has hailed the Lagos State government for its commitment to tackling insecurity in the state.
IGP Egbetokun noted that the government support for security operatives has made it possible to reduce crime in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos.
The Police boss, who noted that since 2007 till date, only one bank robbery has succeeded in the state, declared that the days of armed robberies and bank robberies are gone in Lagos.
He spoke on Thursday at the Lagos State Security Trust Fund 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also donated equipment to the Police.
“What we are doing here today is the usual assistance that the state government has been giving to the police in the state. Without the assistance that the police receive from the government, we will not be able to do the much we are doing in Lagos State. We would have been overwhelmed with insecurity in Lagos State.
“There was a time that armed robbery, bank robbery was common in Lagos, but I can recall that since 2007 till date, only one bank robbery succeeded in Lagos and that was as far back as 2014. So, the days of armed robbery, bank robbery are gone,”
Egbetokun said.
He noted the peculiarity of Lagos as a destination for internal migration and the implication for its security as people flock to the state every day.
The IGP stated that this makes it imperative for the police in the state to continue to adapt and strengthen security strategies to meet the challenges.
At the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu donated over 250 brand-new patrol vehicles, hardware, communications gadgets and protective gear to the police to boost security operations in the state.
He said drone technology would be deployed to enhance monitoring and crime fighting.
“The EGIS component of our mapping and digitalization has almost been completed.
“Lagos is now properly mapped, and drone technology will be deployed at appropriate levels to ensure that both our waterways and densely populated areas will enhance area monitoring, crowd management and traffic assessment effectively at various times so that we can sit back in our offices and people can see what is happening at locations and can respond accordingly,”
Sanwo-Olu said.
