There was panic around
Akilo Junction area of Agege in Lagos State early Monday morning as residents
worried and scampered over a parcel, suspected to contain a bomb.
A yet to be identified
person had reportedly dropped the parcel in one of the man holes in the area,
when some of the residents discovered it and raised the alarm.
Meanwhile the state
government has allayed the fears of the residents of the area and other parts
of the state, insisting that the development was nothing to worry about.
The state government in a
statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna made
available to the Metro described the parcel as a mere “trash”.
The State’s Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting
alongside service commanders of security formations and top government
functionaries in the State, said security agencies responded swiftly to the
development and found out that contrary to rumour the substance was just pieces
of trash dropped in the manhole.
He said: “Early this
morning, we were alerted to a situation where it was reported that some
passers-by dropped something into a manhole in one of the streets at Agege
which led to a bomb scare.
“The security operatives
quickly responded; the bomb disposal unit also went there; those manholes were
checked and it was found out that it was just trash.” the Lagos CP added
He also stated that “We
also seized the opportunity to do what is called sweeping of the environment to
reassure members of the public that security operatives in the State are more
alive to their responsibilities, and that once we get information on a timely
basis, there will be swift response to ensure that nothing untoward happens in
Lagos.”
“We have done an appraisal
of what happened last year in terms of our challenges and the modest
achievements that were recorded last year and use that to prepare for the year
and improve on what we have been doing and to position ourselves very well for
the new challenges that could emerge in the year with the view to making the
people of Lagos and their properties safer and more secure,” Owoseni said.
While assuring the people
that security outfits and the State Government were more poised, repositioned
and more willing to ensure smooth security operations in the State, the
Commissioner urged residents not to hesitate to supply necessary security information
as at when due.
Speaking on the arrest of
two persons in connection with the gruesome murder of a Zonal Commander of
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Surajudeen Olatunji Bakare in
Apapa late last year, Owoseni said investigation into the case was still
ongoing, but that those arrested would help in arresting others who were part
of the mob action that led to the incident.
He said: “It is an ongoing
investigation. You know there was a video recording which we have considered
and it is based on some of the faces that we saw that we picked those people
that were arrested.
“It was a mob action and we
don’t want to rush to court without doing a good clinical finishing of forensic
analysis of the faces to match them with what we have seen in the video and for
those fellows that have been arrested to be able to say oh yes these are the
other people that were there.”
“As investigation is going
on, we would be unveiling the development to the people of Lagos, but what we
just want to do is to ensure that all such impunities are stopped in Lagos
State.”
Besides, the CP recalled
the arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in Lagos recently, saying that the
collaborative effort and synergy that had always existed among security
agencies in the State led to the arrests.
He said henceforth,
government and security agencies have resolved to further put their ears to the
ground and open their eyes more widely to ensure that those elements are not
allowed any space to operate in Lagos.
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