By Samuel Alonge
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The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Imohimi Edgal, reviewing the activities of his Command in the last one year, has given kudos to his officers and men, in combating crimes.

Specifically, the police boss said 233 robbery incidents were foiled by the police in the last one year.

He spoke on Wednesday at the 12th edition of the Town Hall Meeting on Security, organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

According to him, crime statistics in the state from November 2017 to September 2018 also indicated that 701 arms and ammunition were recovered, while nine kidnappers 669 cult groups’ members were arrested in various parts of the state.

He added that 290 armed robbers were arrested with 15 dead during encounters with the police, while a total of 186 murder cases and 43 suicide/attempted suicide cases were recorded.

 He commended the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode “for his massive investment and commitment to security of lives and property”, saying the achievements recorded by the Command were largely due to the support of the state government.

“In tackling the security threats from the creeks, it is instructive to note that the governor recently approved the procurement of six additional gunboats to effectively police the waterways, among other interventions by the state government,” Edgal enthused.

On the occasion, however, Ambode urged security agencies to take practical steps to be ahead of criminal elements and as well build on the successes recorded so far, in making the state the safest in Africa.

Ambode said though the security agencies deserved commendation for their efforts in securing the state, more strategies and policies had to be adopted to outsmart hoodlums, especially during the Yuletide, as well as the approaching electioneering.

According to him, in the last few years, a lot of investments had been made in securing the state, which paid off, but that more investments should be made to further enhance the security architecture of the state.

“Has our investment paid off? I would say, yes it has. Have we really invested enough in terms of security? The answer is no and the truth is, it can never be enough and so it is not a matter of ‘we are getting there’ but it is an everyday thing.

“As long as we want to go out in the night, as long as we want to enjoy Christmas and have night out, these other good guys (men of the underworld) are thinking about us and so we have to be two steps ahead of them all the time, in terms of strategy and reforms we need to make.

“So, obviously we need to think about how to outsmart them and believe me, this is their season and so we need to smart up and be vigilant and that is the message, because they are not going to relent. And again, election is coming and they can be easy tools; so we need to outsmart them,” Ambode admonished.