LAGOS, Nigeria — Lagos State Police Command is raising alarm over a surge in local fabrication of various types of firearms, including foreign replicas, AK47s, and other assault rifles.
The announcement was part of acting Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tour of duty to Lagos on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
CP Idowu Owohunwa, the command boss, painted a complex picture of security challenges confronting the state. “Lagos presents distinctive security challenges due to its unique demography and socio-economic factors,” Owohunwa said.
He noted that the state’s internal security landscape has been increasingly threatened by cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV.
Furthermore, the state grapples with prevalent land disputes’ civil and criminal complexities.
“Most worrisome in all these is a noticeable trend that indicates an increasing local expertise in fabricating various types of firearms. This trend projects a potent danger to the security space of Lagos State,” he added.
Owohunwa detailed how vigilant police operatives consistently recover weapons and illicit drugs during their operations.
“Hardly does a day pass by without our operatives recovering weapons and illicit drugs at stop and search points, raids of black spots, and other operational engagements,” he said.
In response to the escalating threats, the command is planning a comprehensive conference to discuss the issues of cultism and violent crimes.
The conference will involve various stakeholders and different state governance levels.
“The overall goal is adopting a whole-of-society approach to mitigating the trend. The groundwork for the conference is currently being perfected,” Owohunwa revealed.
Regarding SGBV, the Lagos State Police is collaborating with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State to establish a dedicated center.
“This center aims to upscale the capacity of the Command’s Gender Unit to manage SGBV in line with global standards and within a functional facility,” Owohunwa stated.
The police chief also acknowledged the routine traffic gridlocks and occasional robberies, exacerbated by ongoing road projects, especially on the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
The announcement from the Lagos State Police Command adds another layer of urgency to the security challenges facing one of Africa’s most populous and economically significant states.
With a multiplicity of issues to tackle, from illegal firearms to rampant violent crimes, the coming months will be a test of the effectiveness of the state’s security apparatus.
