Group Urges Police To Curb Lawlessness In Lagos

The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) on Thursday urged the law enforcement agencies in Lagos State to rise up to the challenge of curbing lawlessness in the aftermath of #EndSARS protests.
The National President of the rights group, Mr Alex Omotehinse, made the call at a news conference in Lagos on the state of security in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests and the effect on the security of lives and property.
Omotehinse said that the call had become imperative following an online report of an incident that occurred around Oko Oba area of Agege where some hoodlums were suspected to have attacked the Isokoko Police Station.
According to him, the development led to the carting away of more than 30 operational rifles of the police.
He said that the attack was also targeted at the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture warehouses in the bid to loot the State’s palliatives.
Omotehinse said: “In view of our activities, having watched with keen interest, the CHSR and its allies strongly condemn the present state of unrest/anarchy in Lagos State.
“The security situation in Lagos State is becoming unbearable as looters, hoodlums and miscreants have taken over the streets in almost every part of the state.
“It, thereby, degenerated to unrest, panick and in some places leading to lives being lost.
“The hoodlums, who were armed, opened fire at the police team stationed to maintain law and order within that perimeter.
“The police, in a counter move, retaliated leading to pandemonium which later resulted to an unfortunate loss of a life.
“We as a rights group have noticed of recent the state of lawlessness, anarchy and other forms of criminality in Nigeria but with particular reference to Lagos State.
“Hence, the call on the law enforcement agencies to rise to the challenge of curbing this spate of lawlessness.”
According to him, it should be clear to all that a state without police is a state of anarchy that does no good to anyone.
The rights activists said that a call to end police brutality should not translate to mean end police.
“After a careful study of events of the Oko Oba Agege incident, we as unbiased, trusted group categorically state that men of the Lagos task force and other police formations on ground acted professionally in the face of the attack and shootings.
“The CHSR sympathises with the families and friends of all victims of this present unwarranted situation in the state.
“We equally urge the police authority to ensure that in any of their call-to-duty engagements civility should be the watchword.
“Intelligence gathering by us has shown that residents stand a risk of attacks. Therefore, we call on the police to beef up security all over the state.
“This is important because those who hijacked the #EndSARS protests who burnt police stations and carted away arms, ammunition and police uniforms are definitely going to put to use such dangerous weapons,” he added.
Omotehinse said that CHSR, as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), was registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain and promote the fundamental human and socio-economic rights of every Nigerian, as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the #EndSARS protests in Lagos turned violent resulting in massive destruction of public and private property, arson and looting following the Lekki Toll Gate shootings on Oct. 20.