The newly-appointed Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, Ishola Olanrewaju, has pledged a no-nonsense approach to tackling crime in the state, vowing to rid Lagos of criminal elements rather than issuing them warnings to leave.
During his first press briefing at the state command headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday, Olanrewaju presented 98 suspected criminals arrested in recent police operations.
The arrests were part of his team’s intensified efforts to dismantle crime syndicates across the state.
“We are not here to beg criminals to leave Lagos. We will hunt them down and ensure they have no hiding place in this state,” Olanrewaju stated firmly.
The Commissioner also announced a partnership with road transport unions aimed at curbing the rise of “one-chance” robberies.
As part of this collaboration, all commercial buses will be tagged with unique identifiers, making it easier for passengers to recognize the vehicles they board.
“Anyone getting into a bus must know exactly which bus they are entering. This is crucial for public safety,” he added, stressing the importance of the initiative in making Lagos safer for commuters.
Olanrewaju outlined the success of recent coordinated police operations that have targeted key criminal networks in the city. These efforts have led to the arrest of suspects involved in armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and kidnapping.
Significant evidence was recovered during these operations, including firearms, narcotics, stolen goods, $402 in cash, and 39 bags of stolen rice. These seizures, according to the police chief, underscore the depth of organized crime in Lagos.
Olanrewaju assumed duty as the 40th Commissioner of Police for Lagos State on September 18 and has since taken decisive action to confront the growing crime challenges in Nigeria’s largest city.
