Kidnapping: Lagos places security agencies on red alert

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode

The Lagos State Government on Monday assured residents of the State that it was working hard in conjunction with security agencies to address the recent cases of kidnapping and armed robberies in some parts of the State.

It disclosed that security intelligence had revealed useful leads towards identifying notorious syndicates behind the heinous crimes and their accomplices.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the state government said it is alive to its core responsibilities of protecting the citizens as the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would not shirk from its function of protecting the lives and property of its citizens in every part of the state.

The government, while reassuring citizens of their safety in the State, said it was collaborating with security agencies to put in place upgraded security measures that would guarantee safety of lives and property.

“We would like to inform Lagosians that we are saddened by the recent cases of kidnappings that appear not to be unrelenting. But we wish to assure that the government will not fold its arms and allow a few evil doers to prosper at the expense of innocent citizens.

“We are working together with both Federal and Ogun State Governments in particular in the volatile areas that have been identified. We will spare no effort in bringing every criminal gang to book,” it stated.

According to the statement, the response of the government “will be swift, total and reassuring to the public in sending a clear signal to all and sundry that Lagos State will not tolerate any form of criminality.”

While sympathizing with the families of victims in Iba and Ikorodu, the government urged residents of the state to go about their normal businesses without any fear or panic as government had placed security personnel on red alert throughout the State in a bid to checkmate this menace.

The government advised Lagosians to be very vigilant and security conscious as intelligence reports had shown that most of these heinous crimes were perpetrated by recalcitrant elements who had infiltrated the state and were carrying out this act in conjunction with friends, family members or close associates of the victims.

The statement reiterated the commitment and capacity of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to go after and suppress any act of crime and criminality in any part of the State, urging residents to take advantage of the state’s toll free lines: 112 and 767 to report any case of crime or unusual/suspicious movement or strange faces in their neighbourhood to security agencies.

Kazeem Ugbodaga