Lagos police kill 78 robbers in one year

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday presented crime statistics from November 2013 to October 2014, showing that about 78 robbers were gunned down by officers of the command. The statistics also showed that within the period, no fewer than eight cops were killed. The state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, at the 8th Town Hall Meeting on Security on the Lagos Island, said the robbers and the police officers lost their lives in different shootouts between the police and the men of the underworld. He added, “But the police were able to arrest 423 armed robbers in the last one year, while 372 armed robbery incidents were foiled. Our men recovered 255 arms, 4, 043 ammunition and 560 stolen vehicles.” The Lagos police boss explained that 833 vehicles were stolen in Lagos in the last 12 months, adding that 358 vehicles were snatched by robbers at gunpoint, while 468 were stolen from where they were parked and seven others driven away. He said, “There were 68 armed robbery incidents in Lagos in the last 12 months, while 280 people were murdered in Lagos in the same period. The high cases of murder in the state were due to the activities of street gangsters and rivalry clash, motor transport unionism, thuggery, youthful exuberance, unemployment and politics. Speaking at the event organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the fund was for adequate security of residents. Fashola appealed to corporate bodies and individuals to continue to support the STF, saying any setback could have untold consequence. “There is more to be done. We have started some. We intend to provide modern patrol vehicles. We intend to undertake prison service reforms by building a 21st Century prison and we have completed the design. “We are also developing the investigative capacity of law enforcement through training and support, with the aim of providing them with forensic capabilities,” he said. Executive Secretary, STF, Fola Arthur-Worrey, said although the fund received fewer donations, it was still able to contribute significantly to the security machineries in the state.