Police restore Meranda’s security detail, explain withdrawal
The Lagos Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh has confirmed that the earlier withdrawal of police protection from Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda was as a result of personnel audit, dismissing insinuations that the withdrawal was politically motivated.
CP Jimoh made this clarification at a briefing, reiterating that there was an ongoing personnel and arms audit by the police across the country.
The security detail of Merand at her residence and escorts withdrew Thursday morning causing controversy.
Her detail were withdrawn just as those of former speaker, Mudashiru Obasa were reinstated and followed him to the House of the Assembly complex.
According to CP Jimoh, Obasa wrote to the police alleging threat to his life and requested armed protection.
He reemphasised that the police have maintained neutrality and stayed out of politics in the Assembly leadership issue, urging the public not to drag the service into political matters.
“There is an ongoing Police Personnel Audit of our personnel attached to eminent personalities, individuals and groups, and their legal states.
“This is a statutory laid down procedure, which is not limited to Lagos State. The same practice is going on in various commands across the country without any issues. This is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for, including their firearms and other crime fighting equipment in their possession.
“We are doing this to ensure that they are on their duty post and that their firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused.
“This exercise will equally avail the command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval, and those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, illegal duty and invalid approvals, and redeploy them on duty to police posts, police stations, police divisions and area commands to provide security and safety for all residents and visitors,” he said.
The police chief explained that with less than 18,000 police strength to secure more than 20 million people, there was need for more personnel to be at police posts, stations, divisions and the command for the safety and adequate protection of life and property of all the people of the state.
“The ongoing police personnel audit is done in public interest and not with any consideration except for the safety of all in the state.
“As we speak, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the form-armed police personnel attached to her from the State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.
“It is pertinent to state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now, and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise, once again, is not aimed or targeted at any individuals.
“For prominent personalities or business executives that have no valid approval, or having policemen that are with them under unapproved beats, they are implored to revalidate their approval for those with invalid approval, or apply afresh to the Inspector General of Police for their request to be approved without any delay.
“However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing the audit process with us, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken by them. I want to send a note of warning that any prominent persons or individuals without approval for police deployment to them, their personnel will be withdrawn throughout the state.
“The Special Protection Unit Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personal protection will be centrally done throughout the country.
“In the ongoing personnel audit of some personalities in Lagos, approval for their police personnel attached to them cannot be traced and verified, but they can still apply to the Inspector General of Police for the approval of their request and application of their police need.
“This will be treated on merit as stipulated in the Police Regulations of Guards and Protection of VIPs, Non-VIPs, and other individuals,” he stressed.
On Obasa, the CP said: “There was application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family in the last few days. It was on the basis of that application that police personnel were approved to him for that purpose only.
“The Lagos State Police Command is not aware or in the know of how and where the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly was broken into. The Lagos State Police Command is neutral in the whole episode and will continue to do so to ensure law and order and public safety and security throughout the length and breadth of Lagos State.
“This, we will not be tired of doing at the Lagos State Police Command. I hereby appeal for calm, for everyone to go about their lawful duty and other responsibilities peacefully.
“The police deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly has been reinforced and fortified with more Mobile Police Force (PMF) personnel sent. Counter-terrorism units are equally being increased and sent there.
“Special protection units are equally attached there. The Bomb Squad and the Conventional Police Team and Detectives were increased and sent to the State House of Assembly to fortify the security. We also stationed Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and other vehicular patrol teams to prevent any untoward incidents.
“Whatsoever has been done in the Lagos State House of Assembly today, the Lagos State Police Command is not in the know. Police do not have responsibility in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly. We are limited to providing adequate security coverage for the House of Assembly and not to be involved in any other matters of politics inside the premises, except if there is complaint that borders on crimes and safety.
“The Lagos State Police Command will continue to be neutral and not to get involved in politics at whatever level. Security situation in the House of Assembly is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored.
“Lagosians are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and other responsibilities without fear as the police are completely resolved to maintain law and order throughout the state, to engender public safety, public security,” he added.
